Return to You

didn't notice Rick come in until he towered
over them. He wore an unsure look that didn't suit him at all.
"Good morning, ladies."
    "You have some nerve showing your face around here."
Gwen hissed at him, looking like she was about to jump up and
claw.
    He scowled at her.
    Lainie edged away. "I was leaving anyway. I'll call
you, Olivia."
    Rick put a hand on her arm. "Wait a minute. Before
you leave, I wanted to apologize. I—"
    "You were protecting Olivia, and you were misled."
Lainie covered his hand with hers. "There's no fault in that. I
really have to go now." With a faint smile at them, she briskly
left.
    Surprisingly, Olivia felt sad for Parker. He'd lost
the best thing that had happened to him in thirty years.
    Gwen and Rick's bickering brought her back to the
moment. "I'm outta here," she said loudly, cutting in. "I have a
store to open."
    Walking her out, Eve glanced back at the quarreling
couple. "What's with those two?"
    "Repressed sexual tension." Olivia left, Eve's warm
laugh following her out the door.
    Olivia let herself in Romantic Notions. She left the
door unlocked. It was close enough to opening time to not bother
with it. She started her routine of straightening the store while
the credit card machine and register booted. She was getting out
the cash from her safe when she heard someone walk in.
    Frowning, she emerged from the back to find Parker
looming in the doorway. He was thoroughly cataloguing every detail
of her store.
    She felt herself puff up, ready to defend what she'd
worked so hard for. But before she could open her mouth, he turned
to her and said, "Elaine was right. What you've created is
impressive."
    She snapped her mouth shut. What could she say to
that?
    He walked toward her, cautiously, as if he didn't
want to scare her in flight. His pale eyes watched her, and in them
she could read determination. And loneliness.
    She hadn't planned the next words that fell from her
mouth. "Why did you leave me with Gran?"
    He stopped. Silence stretched uncomfortably between
them. She didn't think he was going to answer when he finally said,
"You're very much like your mother."
    She frowned. That wasn't an answer. She was about to
protest when a memory from her childhood flashed in her mind.
    She must have been four years old or so. Her parents
were in the kitchen. It was past her bedtime, but she was thirsty
and wanted some milk. She pretended she was Catwoman, slinking to
the doorway. She peered around the corner. Her dad's hands were in
her mom's long, blonde hair. He looked up and saw her. Her breath
caught in her throat. He winked at her and hugged her mom tight.
She knew she was supposed to go back to bed, but she turned around
one last time to catch him caress her mom's face before he tipped
her head back for a kiss.
    Through child's eyes, a kiss was a kiss. Now,
replaying the memory, she saw the kiss for what it was—the deep,
all-encompassing love of a man for a woman. Complete rapture.
    Like what she felt for Michael. And she knew first
hand what it felt like to have it ripped apart.
    She stared at her father, for once seeing past her
own hurt to his. She hated it when her grandmother was right.
    She took a deep breath and took the plunge. "I don't
know what you want from me."
    "Just another chance."
    "I won't be manipulated again. Try it and I'm gone,
faster than you can say 'take two.'"
    "Fair enough."
    She shook her head. She'd spent so many years angry
at him. "I'm not sure I can do this."
    "Olivia, I'm only asking you to meet me
halfway."
    It was the earnestness in his eyes that got to her.
She nodded. She could manage halfway.
    She stood there, unsure of what to do next. It
seemed like they should close the deal somehow, but a handshake
seemed cold and a hug was too intimate too fast.
    He reached out and ran his thumb down her cheekbone.
Just like he used to do when she was little. Her heart began to
thaw, and she thought maybe it wouldn't be so hard after all.
     

Chapter Thirty-three
     
     
    Lainie looked out into the sea of people. She
couldn't find Olivia.
    It didn't make sense. She'd talked to Olivia just
that morning to confirm her arrival time. Olivia wouldn't forget
her.
    Someone jostled her from behind. Clutching her
carry-on, she moved out of the way.
    She scanned the crowd again, looking for a tall
brunette with a bold sense of style. Her eyes widened when she
found someone of that description.
    Everett.
    She turned to the wall, pressing a hand to her
chest. She