Return to Europe

Chapter 10

She didn't want to see him, and she sure as hell didn't want to talk to him. That was what she had been telling everyone for the past week when they begged her to listen to Oliver's side of the story. It was no use. People knew better than to even mention Oliver around Audrey anymore. The news that Laurel had shared with her hurt too much for her to even consider other possibilities.

Even if Oliver did love her as much as everyone kept saying, he didn't belong with her. He belonged with Laurel and his child. Audrey knew all too well what pregnancy and a new child were like. As much as she resented Chris, she was thankful he had been there with her through the pregnancy and first period of being a new parent.

Audrey was helping clean up the kitchen when her cell phone rang. It was her lawyer. He had some things involving Chris and a possible embezzlement case that needed her attention immediately. She could be back in time for the wedding. It would give her a chance to tell her firm she was leaving and to put the house on the market and get things packed up. She only had time to tell her mother and daughters where she was going and pack her bags before her flight was scheduled to leave. There was no time to dwell on Oliver anymore.

Audrey was not surprised when she was met by reporters and photographers the moment she got off of the plane. She had left the country over three weeks ago for a vacation without giving anyone further details and suddenly returned for a legal proceeding involving her dead husband. She refused to comment and marched away from the mob of camera flashes and tape recorders towards the driver her lawyer had sent. The trip through the airport had reminded her how much she loved the Burrow.

"Audrey, I am so sorry to have called you away from your vacation, but I am afraid I had no choice. It seems your husband had made some so-called business deals right before he died that are very questionable. A lot of people are claiming that he owes them money. If they are not paid by the end of the week, they are threatening to sue. These are large figures we are talking about. It could wipe a large chunk of your assets out."

"If I were to sell the house and all of Chris' assets and threw in all the money I received from his death, how much more are we talking here?"

"Which house are you planning on selling?"

"All of them. The beach house and the mountain house have all been sold; you can use the money from that. The lake house and my residency are going on the market as soon as I leave your office."

"That about covers it. You may be about $50,000 short after that."

"Take the Trust Fund started for the girls."

"Then that covers it all, plus some. Any particular reason you are getting rid of everything?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I will no longer need your services after this is all over. I am joining my family in Europe permanently as soon as I have everything taken care of. If you could oversee all the sales, I would greatly appreciate it. Anything that is left over after you pay everyone off, keep. Take a vacation on me. They can be life changing."

"I think that a move will be good for you. Get away from everyone that wants the story of your life. I wish you the best and thank you for your business." The lawyer led Audrey to the door and gave her a quick hug. She deserved a life much better than what she had here and he couldn't have been happier for her.

Later that afternoon, Audrey had everything on the market and had put it all under the law firm's control. The next day, she explained to the firm that she would not be coming back. She would finish all the projects she was currently working on and send everything to them from England. She thanked them profusely for all they had done for and given her. Those that were closest to her felt she was making a wise decision getting away from everything. It took longer than she expected to get everything together, packed up and ready to be sent to Europe. She would be staying in Fred and George's old house until it sold. Two hours before the wedding, she Flooed back to the Burrow and hurriedly got ready.

Audrey tried not to look at Oliver as she walked down the aisle. It brought back painful memories. She remembered just a couple of weeks ago when she imagined walking towards him at their own wedding. Now, that seemed like nothing but foolish thinking. She noticed him watching her walk down the aisle and her heart began to ache. She had wanted so badly for everything to work out, to be able to make up for the pain she had caused ten years ago. In turn, she received the pain twice as hard.

Oliver couldn't keep his eyes off of Audrey as she walked down the aisle. He hoped more than anything that she would hear him out this time. He knew there wasn't much time left before she left Europe again for good. He vowed not to lose again. He was going to find her after the reception and make him listen. There was so much he wanted to tell her. He just hoped he could get it out before she walked out of his life again.

The wedding was beautiful. The brides had looked absolutely perfect and everyone was touched by the ceremony. During the pictures, people kept making Audrey and Oliver stand together. She refused to look at or acknowledge him in anyway. Oliver was beginning to get frustrated. When the wedding party had to dance, she headed to the opposite side of the floor from Oliver. She knew she was acting childish, but she didn't care. She couldn't bear for Oliver to look in her eyes and see all the pain it had caused her. She had to be strong.

After two hours, Oliver finally saw an opportunity to talk to Audrey. She was standing on the hotel's balcony and Cho Chang had just walked away, leaving her alone. Oliver headed out before anyone else could go talk to her.

"Audrey..." She spun around as Oliver called her name.

"Oliver, we have nothing left to say to each other. We were simply living in a dream world and woke up. It was fun to relive the old days and all, but we are adults and there is much more than lust and sex involved here. There are children, fucked-up pasts, and too many futures depending on us involved. It never would have worked. Please don't apologize." She looked him squarely in the eye. "It's not like you hurt me all that much, so don't worry about it." She quickly walked inside before he could see that she had been lying to him.

What in the hell had she been talking about? She had given him a menacing look and said that he had not hurt her. Too bad it hurt him like hell. Maybe he was wrong; maybe she wasn't in love with him as he thought. But damn it, he still loved her. More than anything, her still loved her.

As he looked inside, he saw the reception was coming to an end. The newly weds were all making their way out of the front door for the grand exit. Oliver swallowed his pride and went to try to enjoy the end of the big night, no matter how much he was dying inside.

The babysitter had taken the twins home an hour after the reception had started. Audrey would go pick them up tomorrow afternoon from the grandparents. Tonight, she wanted nothing more than to curl up on the couch with the leftover bottle of wine she had taken from the bridesmaid's room. She was searching for her keys when she heard someone come up behind her. Please don't let it be Oliver, she thought. She would rather it be a mugger than Oliver. Needless to say, she was surprised to turn around and come face to face with a very grown up Draco Malfoy.

"Audrey, is that you?"

"Yes Draco, it's really me."

"What in the hell are you doing back?"

"Gee thanks, nice to see you again too. I came back for Fred and George's weddings. I am staying for good now, though. What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was trying to convince this girl to marry me, but now she's all pissed off and taken off in my car. I don't suppose you would want to give me a ride would you?"

"Why the hell not, get in."

Oliver had forgotten to ask his niece where she parked his car at the reception hall. He must have been too busy thinking about Audrey. Damn that girl, he thought, now I have to wander around until I see the damn car. Why in the hell did the Weasley's have to pick some fancy muggle place anyway? Who in the hell drives to a wizarding function? Two figures in the parking garage caught his attention. It was Audrey and Draco. Leaving together. Well, if that's the kind of guy she wanted, fine. Too bad she got the one who truly knocked up Laurel. What a coincidence.

"So, tell me about this girl. The one you want to marry. You must really love her," asked Audrey as she and Draco drove down the road in Katie's car.

"Actually, I'm not really sure, I might. I am not really sure if she loves me, though."

"Why do you want to marry her then?"

"Because I got her pregnant."

"Seems to be happening a lot lately," she said quietly to herself.

"What'd you say?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing."

"Oh well, she was engaged once, said it was a terrible mistake. I keep trying to tell Laurel just to give it a chance, but she won't listen."

Audrey slammed on the breaks in front of Draco's townhouse and looked over at him. "Laurel? The Quidditch reporter Laurel?"

"Yeah. Oh shit, that's right, Oliver. I guess you would know who she is. Sorry, didn't mean to bring up such a sore name."

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

"Well, thanks for the ride. Good night."

"Good night Draco."

So the baby really wasn't Oliver's. Audrey felt so foolish. Of course he would have shared something like that with her. The girls had been right. Laurel was just trying to ruin what she and Oliver had never had. After all the times she had blown Oliver off lately and the way she had treated him tonight, was there still a chance? She knew there was only one say to find out.