Chapter 289 - Friends, sometimes can be the best medicine (3)

14 April, Matthew's villa, City K

Settling down, Lexi poured tea for both Rachael and Joan, while they chatted about minor things for a little while.

Observing Lexi finish her cup, and place it down Rachael said "Lexi, you are not going to avoid us. You need to talk to someone, but I suspect that you do not want to see a professional. Use us as a sounding board, because you cannot keep everything in, if you do not want that help."

"You will be like them and tell Matthew," was Lexi's quick response.

Joan shook her head, and said "Lexi, we would not be like that. We would only talk to a professional if we were worried about your safety and as to Matthew, he has denied you a proper wedding for us to be bridesmaids, so Mister soldier can go jump if we will talk to him about matters."

Seeing the sincerity on her friend's faces, Lexi started to cry. Rachael nodded to Joan, who moved away quietly saying "I will go and spend some time with Dominic."

Letting Lexi cry for a little while, Rachael quietly said "Lexi, it is just us. Joan has gone to spend some time with Dominic. Let me help you."

Lexi pulled back and said "Rachael, all I have kept seeing when I close my eyes to sleep is Matthew getting shot but not coming out of it as he has."

"Lexi, Matthew came out of it. Do not think about what could have happened look at what did."

"But it so could have…" came Lexi's distressed response.

Sensing Lexi trembling, Rachael knew all that she could do was be supportive. However, she had an idea. The woman's refuge that she volunteered at once a month had a counsellor who could help. Gently grabbing Lexi's shoulders, she looked her in the eyes, and said "Lexi. You have told us you do not want help. That I respect, because it needs to be your choice, but you cannot keep going like this. You will utterly break, and that will let Richard's parents swoop in and take Dominic away. They will argue that you are mentally unstable and his only protection now has to be in their care and they will force you out of his life. I have a solution. You know how I have for years volunteered at the women's refuge?"

Lexi nodded, quietly saying "Yes."

"They have a counsellor, who specialises in dealing with women. Her focus is on abused women suffering post traumatic stress disorder because of their abuse. What I thought was that you could meet her, not for a counselling session but just for the sake to see if you might want to use her for counselling."

"No way. She will talk to Matthew," came Lexi's determined response.

"Lexi, no. Working for a women's refuge her priority is protecting women from all harm. Unless there is a criminal matter where she is obliged to provide information by the court, you authorise it, or legally she is obliged to disclose, she will not. That would include even to Matthew."

"That would not be. She would have to tell my husband."

Rachael could not believe Lexi. "Lexi how about a deal. Joan, you and I go out for afternoon tea at the Lake View Café. I would have loved to say a spa afternoon, but the time to organise that can at least speak to her about her professional ethics. Then once you have spoken to her, you make your choice and I will pay for your spa treatment the next time we go. No restrictions on the treatments."

Lexi looked at Rachael, and said quietly "Fine, but we are going to get absolutely drunk today. I need a distraction for a little while."

"Absolutely, you know we have the best fun when we get drunk. We just have to organise a driver so none of us have to worry."

"Leave that to me. Let us get going."

With that Lexi hurried in side, while Rachael pulled out her mobile and called Sally. When she answered she said "Can you meet us at the Lake View Café?"

"Why?"

"Girl's afternoon out, and the friendship rule will apply."

"Friends before men. Absolutely, and I will simply tell my husband where to do…"

In the background Rachael heard "What wife, you love me."

Sally responded "I better go and settle the ruffled feathers here before I meet you there, say in forty-five minutes or so. But the other…?"

"She has agreed to meet someone I know, at least to understand what they can offer. But we are not going to press her."

"At least that is something, see you." With that Rachael hung the mobile and headed inside where Joan and Lexi were waiting for her.

"Dominic is going to Chester's for the night, and a limo will be here in a few minutes with a stocked bar. Let us go have fun for a few hours…"

"Getting drunk don't you mean?" said Joan.

"That is going to be part of it. When, in the last few months have we actually had a girl's day out?"

"I think it has been over six months since we have done that. You have been too focused with Dominic and your business, Sally was missing-in-action, but we now know why, and Rachael has been nursing her wounds after being dumped by that piece of trash."

"Thank god for that. I pity the woman who he conned recently to marry him. I was lucky I found out what he was like before I married him,"

"Less talk, girls, let us go and have fun," said Lexi, handing them both a champagne flute, and motioning to Uncle Adam to pour the three of them a drink. Spotting Dominic she bent down and said "Are you alrigth with me going out with Aunty Joan and Aunty Rachael?"

"Mummy, I am having a boy's day in with Uncle Chester and Uncle Phillip. Maybe I can even convince Uncles Andrew, John, Steven, and Paul to join us. I will have more fun than you will."

Laughing, Lexi ruffled Dominic's hair before standing up and taking the glass from Uncle Adam. As she picked up her handbag, she heard Dominic running across the foyer calling "Uncle Chester," Lexi looked over and spotted Chester walking in.

Coming over, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and said "Do not worry about him. You need a distraction and a girl's day out sounds perfect. Have fun."

Rachael hearing this called out "Having fun! Absolutely, getting drunk a bonus."

Chester shook his head, as he watched Lexi, Rachael and Joan walk out.

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