Chapter 13

ANNA

I wake up in the guest bedroom the next morning with Olivia poking my side. She’s sprawled across the bed, head nowhere near the pillow. That’s my girl.

Yesterday was incredible. We only had a few hours to chat, but it felt like we were reconnecting. It was like old times.

As I predicted, James got an earful from his parents after Olivia went to bed. But once everything was out in the open, they were proud of him for stepping up the moment he found out.

I was relieved they didn’t blame me. Since James and I had split, they understood why I hadn’t turned to them for help.

Jessica, though, was a little hurt that I hadn’t confided in her, given our close relationship. But she got it when I explained that I wasn’t sure I could after the breakup.

I get up, leaving Olivia spread out like a starfish on the bed, and head to the attached bathroom. I take a quick shower and brush my teeth.

I lay out a couple of outfits for Olivia to choose from when she wakes up. I pull on skinny jeans and a baby blue blouse.

Today is Thursday, which means my parents will be playing cards this afternoon with their church buddies. Their life is so predictable it borders on dull.

~Time to shake things up.~

~

I grab the baby monitor and leave the room, letting Olivia catch a few more Z’s. James steps out of his room at the same time. He’s also dressed casually in jeans and a shirt.

“Ready for today?” he asks.

I nod. “I can’t wait. I just want to see their faces when they see me. I can already picture their reactions.” I chuckle.

“What will they do?”

“Probably slam the door in my face. Call me names, disown me, that sort of thing,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“Then why are you so excited?”

“I just want to see the shock on their faces when they realize I’ve made it,” I reply. “Let’s head downstairs and get ready for later. Liv is still sleeping.”

We head down to the kitchen. Jessica and David are already up, sitting at the kitchen island.

“Morning, guys,” I greet them.

“Hi, sweetheart,” they reply in unison.

I sit down and pour some coffee for James and me.

“Ready?” Jessica asks.

I nod. “James is coming with me, so everything will be fine,” I assure them. I’m also trying to convince myself.

~You know how this will go, Anna. You’re prepared. You’ve got this.~

~

“Where’s Olivia?” David asks. Just then, a thud comes from the monitor, signaling that she’s just tumbled out of bed.

“That’s her, right on cue. I need to go before she tries to navigate the stairs.” I start to get up but James pushes me back down.

“I’ll go. Her clothes?”

“I laid them out on the bed, two outfits.” He nods and dashes upstairs.

“What’s the rush?” David jokes.

“She’ll walk right off the stairs,” I explain. “She’s a climber, she’ll come looking for us if we don’t get there in time.”

His eyes widen. “She really is James’s daughter,” he says, laughing.

“That she is,” I joke back.

A few minutes later, James reappears with Olivia in his arms.

“Morning, Lovebug,” I say. I stand up to give her a kiss. She rubs her eyes, still a bit groggy.

“Someone’s still sleepy.”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m not sleepy.” She coughs hard—really hard. Just like I knew she would. That damn cough.

I pull her antibiotics from her bag and give them to her.

“That’s a nasty cough,” Jessica comments, concern in her voice.

“I know. We really need those answers. Hopefully, I’ll get them today.”

“Go, we’ll watch her. Antibiotics?”

“They’re in the fridge, you probably know the dosage, but it’s on the label. She’ll only need them around noon since I just gave her the first dose,” I assure her.

“Are you going to play with grandma and grandpa?” I ask Olivia and she nods.

She reaches out to David. He takes her from me and gives her something to eat.

“Not too much sugar please, or I’ll have to peel her off the ceiling when we get back.”

They nod in understanding. “James,” they chuckle.

“Those eyes alone tell you enough,” I say. “But yeah…James.”

I grab my coat and slip on my shoes.

“I love you,” I tell Olivia.

“I love you too.”

“I love you too,” James says.

“I love you too, Daddy.”

We step outside and head to the car.

“Okay, let’s get this over with.”

My parents’ house is about ten minutes from James’s parents' place. We drive through the all-too-familiar town.

“It’s been a while,” I say out loud.

“We’re only here for a few days. We’ll be back home soon,” James reassures me.

Suddenly, I feel a wave of nerves. I’m scared that what I’ve been anticipating will actually happen.

James takes my hand. “I’m here,” he says, not taking his eyes off the road.

“Thanks.”

“Always.”

Soon, we pull up the familiar driveway of my childhood home. The place that was supposed to be my safe haven. My home. Filled with people who loved me.

~No, don’t think like that. You knew the moment you found out that this was your new reality.~

~

~But a person can still hope~…~right?~

The car belonging to my dad is parked right in front of us. “Just as I figured, they’re home,” I say, knowing Mom must have already made her grocery run.

We get out of the car. “Let’s do this,” I say, leading the way to the front door. I press the doorbell.

“Hold on!” Mom’s voice echoes from inside.

The door swings open, and her face registers surprise when she sees me.

I can’t help but smirk a little.

“What are ~you~ doing here?” she snaps, attempting to slam the door in my face. I block it.

“I need to talk to you and Peter,” I say, refusing to call my dad by his first name. I see the hurt flash in her eyes when I don’t call him Dad, but that’s what they’ve become to me.

They made that choice.

“I have nothing to say to you!” she retorts, trying to shut the door again. Her eyes are shooting daggers.

“What’s going on, Ruby?” my dad, Peter, asks as he approaches the door.

His face hardens when he sees me.

“What are you doing here?”

I roll my eyes.

“Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me, Anna,” he warns, pointing a finger at me.

~How very fatherly of him.~

“Oh, so you do remember me,” I shoot back. He flinches.

“I need to talk to both of you,” I insist.

“What do you want? We’re not giving you any money.”

I roll my eyes again and let out a sigh.

“God, I don’t fucking need your money. I need to talk!” I yell at him.

“Watch your language,” Mom scolds, stomping her foot.

“Don’t you dare tell me how to speak, Ruby,” I retort.

“All I want is to talk. Just one conversation, then we’ll leave. That’s all I’m asking for,” I plead.

“We?” Ruby questions.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,” James greets, stepping out from behind me.

“James Brown,” Peter sneers, his eyes narrowing.

“One conversation. Just give us that and we’ll be out of your hair in less than thirty minutes,” James promises.

“Thirty minutes,” they concede.

Mom steps aside and we walk into the house.