Chapter 31

Juliet scanned the restaurant as she stepped inside, hoping Paige wouldn't be much longer. She had decided to take herself to the salon today for a haircut, and she had texted Juliet ten minutes ago to let her know she was running a little bit late. Juliet had slept through the night again last night, and as she stood there feeling calm and relaxed, she was amazed by what a good sleep could do for the body. She didn't feel permanently tired anymore, and with the bar still being closed, she could nap in the day if she wished to. That was something she had thoroughly enjoyed today after lunch. It wasn't something she would make a habit, but she did understand that her body was still recovering.

"Hi. May I help you?" A server stepped towards her, frowning. "Oh! You're…that woman."

Huh. That woman. Charming. Juliet sighed. "What woman?"

"The one who was in the paper. The one from the bar."

"Yes. The one who was…gutted, was it?" Juliet rolled her eyes and checked her watch. "I have a table booked. Two people. Surname is Saunders."

"R-right. Yes. Follow me." The server took two menus from the holder attached to the wall and weaved through the tables. Juliet followed, aware that people were staring at her. Couldn't she enjoy dinner outside of the apartment without eyes on her? God, she hoped this wouldn't last long. "Here. I'll give you a few minutes to get seated."

"I'm waiting for my fiancée. She's running late."

The server smiled. "That's fine. I'll direct her over when she arrives."

Juliet sat down and picked up a menu, trying to ignore the people around who were so rudely watching her. What exactly were they waiting for? Was she supposed to drop dead or something? Ridiculous! She blew out a breath and focused on the wine list. She would need plenty of it if she was going to get through dinner.

"Hi, babe. Sorry I'm late." Paige appeared out of nowhere, looking as gorgeous as ever. She leaned down and kissed Juliet, lingering as she smiled against her lips. "I missed you."

"You've only been gone a few hours." Juliet laughed as Paige sat down facing her.

"I know. But we've been joined at the hip lately, and maybe I'm just getting used to it."

Juliet cocked her head. "Poor you."

"Nope. Quite enjoying it, actually."

Juliet gave Paige a few minutes to relax, perusing the menu as her stomach growled. It was hard to believe that just days ago, she had very little appetite. It had perked up while she was in hospital, but once she'd been discharged and she was back in the comfort of her own home, it had fallen away again.

"Oh, um…" Paige looked up at Juliet, chewing her lip. "When I was at the salon, my social media started going a bit nuts."

"Why?"

"When we were out ring shopping the other day and that guy took our picture… Well, it's reached the media. With an article."

Juliet slumped in her seat. Now she understood why Paige had wanted to protect her while she was on tour. "Right. I see."

"It's…not great, but those sorts of things rarely are. They don't know us or anything about our relationship. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not paying any attention to it."

"Show it to me." Juliet looked around the restaurant again. It seemed like they'd never have a nice quiet meal again. "Please."

Paige handed her phone over, the article open and ready for Juliet. She read through it, scoffing when the article suggested they were ‘dating'. They were far deeper into this than dating. If people were going to write rubbish in papers, they could at least try to get it right.

And then Juliet's disbelief at the article turned to sadness. "Music fans will be disappointed to know that Paige Ashburn, rising star and exceptional pianist, is dating a woman who made it her career to defend some of the worst criminals the UK has ever seen." Juliet rarely felt terrible about her choices in life, but seeing this and knowing that people would have an opinion about Paige dating such a person…Juliet felt terrible. For Paige, not herself. She had known what she was getting into when she chose that path. "I'm sorry, Paige."

Paige, oblivious to how Juliet was feeling, looked up from her menu. "Sorry…for what?"

"Who I am. What I represented. For dragging your name through the papers."

Paige shrugged. "I'm not really arsed, to be honest, babe. They can write what they want." Paige lowered her menu and settled a hand over Juliet's. "I love you. I'm going to marry you. Everything else is just irrelevant and pointless background noise."

Juliet gazed back at Paige, feeling nothing other than the truth in those words. God, she was one lucky woman. "Do you think people will ever leave us alone after this?"

Paige puffed out her cheeks as the server approached. "I hope so."

They ordered their food and drink and then returned to their conversation. "You…remember we spoke about moving into something bigger?"

Paige nodded, sitting forward in her seat and smiling. "I do. And I think you may have felt a bit pressured about it all. It's still something I'd like to consider, but not yet. Let's get back on our feet with the bar and stuff first. There's no rush, anyway."

Juliet had spent the morning thinking about moving. The idea was really beginning to grow on her. After the last couple of months, she wanted to do all the things she and Paige wanted. "I was thinking that maybe I'd speak to Rachel. Tell her that we'll be in to see Andi at some point. She has a very good eye for what people want."

"Sounds great. Just…don't rush it, okay? We've both been through a lot recently. I'm just happy to be sitting here with you tonight."

"Me too."

"So, listen to this!" Paige suddenly seemed giddy as she sat even further forward in her seat, glancing around to check they were alone in this conversation. "I called Soraya while I was at the salon. She's up for coming to the bar for Edie's birthday."

"Oh. Wow. Edie would love that."

Pride shone from Paige's eyes. "I know. What can I say? I know what kids want these days. I'm ‘hip' or whatever it is they say."

Juliet laughed, immensely proud to call this woman hers. "You're great with Edie. I'm not surprised you know how to pull off this party. That kid adores you."

Paige lifted a shoulder. "Kids are cool. Edie is a sweetheart. But then again, she does have great parents."

Juliet had to agree. When she had given Hannah a job with her, she didn't know the first thing about Caz, but as they'd all grown closer, it was hard to believe that Caz hadn't actually raised Edie from birth. It was so beautiful to see. "She does."

Juliet watched Paige, noting the faraway look in her eyes. Paige shook her head lightly and focused on their hands. It was quite clear that she had something on her mind. One hundred percent.

"Are you okay?"

"Me? Yeah." Paige smiled. "Just remembered something Hannah and Caz said while you were in the hospital."

Juliet's brows drew together. "What did they say?"

"Oh, nothing." Paige toyed with Juliet's fingertips, the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. "It was just a throwaway comment, really."

"Paige." Juliet dipped her head, stilling Paige's hand when she turned her own over and held it. "Talk to me. What did they say?"

"Just that I'd be a good parent. That… we'd be good parents."

Juliet's heart jumped a little as she studied Paige's beautiful face. She would certainly make adorable children. Juliet's dream had been children, a wife, and a beautiful home filled with love. Was…Paige about to offer that dream to her? "And what did you think about that?"

"Like I said to them, it's not something I ever thought about. James…was never the person I wanted to raise a family with. I'm not sure the idea of kids even entered my mind when I was married to him."

"But do you want to raise a family?" Juliet asked, her throat dry with anticipation. "With someone else?"

"I'll say the same thing I said to Hannah and Caz." Paige leaned in and kissed the back of Juliet's hand. "If I was given the chance to have a family with you, I'd do it in a heartbeat."

Tears pricked Juliet's eyes as she stared back at Paige. The noise in the restaurant died away, just the two of them in this moment. Was it possible that Juliet was really about to start living the life she'd always wanted? Surely, she wasn't that lucky.

"But it's not something we've ever talked about."

Juliet felt a world of emotion swell in her stomach. While their relationship had been perfect for some time now, this conversation changed everything. Juliet felt…at peace. Truly at peace. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Paige chewed the inside of her cheek, her right eye slightly narrowed. Juliet suspected she was worried about having the conversation for fear of their future plans not matching up. "Yes. But I need it to not change anything if we see different things, okay? I don't crave children; it's not something that's a deal breaker for me. If you don't want that in the future, then I'm okay with that. I can live with it."

"Paige." Juliet wasn't close enough. She moved from her seat to the one on the right of Paige and took both of her hands in her lap. "All I've ever wanted in life is a wife and children. All I dreamed about as I came home from work night after night…was to wake up in someone's arms and have a purpose beyond courtrooms and prisons. To make breakfast for the people that I love. Big and small people." Juliet lifted a hand and held Paige's chin. "It would be an honour to have children with you."

"Y-you mean that?" Paige seemed shocked, but Juliet had never been more certain about anything in life. "You're not just saying it because you think you'll lose me?"

"No, baby." God, was this what true happiness felt like? It wasn't that Juliet wasn't already deliriously happy with Paige, she was, but this would just take that happiness to a new level. A level that Juliet had imagined to be unobtainable. Until now. "I think that after the shit we've been through, we deserve one hell of a happy ending."

The server approached with their drinks, clearing her throat as she set them down on the table. "Sorry to interrupt. I'll…just leave your drinks here."

Juliet beamed a smile at her. It was the very same woman who had greeted Juliet on arrival. Only now…Juliet wasn't ‘that woman' anymore. No, she was a new person just from this conversation. "Thank you." She turned and left the table, giving Juliet the opportunity to focus back on Paige again. Neither of them said anything, but Paige's eyes had a brightness in them that she hadn't seen for a long time. "You're my world, Paige. You always will be."

Paige blinked back tears as she repeatedly swallowed. "I never knew this kind of happiness existed until I met you. Everything I went through with James was worth it to have this at the end of such a horrific marriage."

Juliet tucked Paige's hair behind her ear and smiled. "You and I have so many memories to make together. Soon, you won't even remember a time when you were married to him."

"You erase it a little bit more every day." Paige closed her eyes and exhaled a shaky breath. Juliet reached for their drinks, handing Paige's over to her once she was back in the room, and clinked their glasses together.

"To us, Paige."

"Always to us."