Chapter 9

ANNA

The moment Jim and Liz are out of sight, the doctor swings by to let us know we can take Olivia home. Relief washes over me. Not just because she’s okay, but because she doesn’t have to stay in this sterile place any longer.

I’m aware we need to find answers, but the thought of confronting my parents leaves me unsettled.

James helps Olivia change back into her clothes, ready for the journey home. I sign the discharge papers and bid everyone farewell.

“Just a scare this time?” the nurse inquires.

“Not exactly. I have to have a chat with my parents, and Dr. Collins wants to bring in a specialist. It’s not normal for her to have pneumonia so often—but at least it’s not cancer.”

Stella wraps me in a comforting hug. “She’s a fighter.”

I nod in agreement. “I know.”

“Just like her mama,” a male voice chimes in from behind me.

“Indeed, sir,” Stella replies, adjusting her top and giving her chest a little lift.

“James, meet Stella. She’s been on Livvy’s case since the beginning. Stella, this is James Brown, Olivia’s dad.”

Stella’s eyes nearly pop out of her head. “Her dad?” she asks me.

“Yup.”

“Damn girl, you have great taste.” I can’t help but chuckle as she gives me a friendly slap on the back.

“Daddy, I want to go home,” Olivia says, reaching up for him. He scoops her up and she nestles her head on his shoulder. I can tell she’ll be asleep within minutes.

“We need to go,” he tells me, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“I can see that. Let’s go.”

“Thanks, Stella. We’ll see you soon.”

“Good luck.”

As we exit the hospital, James hands Olivia to me so he can fetch the car.

“Mommy…,” she whimpers.

“Yes, baby?”

“I want to sleep.”

“We’re going home. Daddy’s getting the car.” She rests her head and drifts off. James pulls up in the car and opens the door for me to get her in.

“She’s asleep,” I whisper to him as I buckle her in. I slide into the passenger seat next to him.

“Let’s go. Address?”

“Head to the campus, I’ll guide you from there,” I instruct.

He starts the car and I direct him to our cozy home. As we approach the campus, I say, “Okay, turn right here.” He follows my instructions.

“Second house on the left,” I tell him as we pull up in front of our quaint country house. It’s a two-bedroom home with a spacious living room and kitchen, a bathroom, and a study for me.

“Can you carry her?” I ask him.

“Sure.” He gently lifts Olivia from the car while I unlock the door. I push it open and flick on the lights—the lamp is finally working again.

“Thank you, Jim,” I say, clasping my hands together in a prayer-like gesture. James steps through the door and surveys the room with a smile.

“Nice place,” he comments.

I beam—I’m incredibly proud of our little home. It took a lot of effort, but it’s ours.

“Thank you. You can take her straight up. First door on the right.”

He ascends the stairs and enters Olivia’s bedroom. It’s modest, but it’s amazing what you can do with a little creativity.

I had crafted wooden letters spelling her name and painted them white. I added some lights around it, so it doubles as a nightlight.

Olivia doesn’t like sleeping with the door open, but she’s also not a fan of the dark. This was our solution. I switch on the lights, illuminating her name.

“Put her in her bed,” I instruct him as I fetch her pajamas.

“What about her teeth?” he asks. I roll my eyes.

“Are you really going to wake her after the day she’s had? I’ll let her brush them twice tomorrow morning. She’ll need a bath too—usually I bathe her in the evening, but I’m not waking her up now.”

He nods in understanding as we dress her in her pajamas.

“Goodnight, Lovebug,” I whisper to her. Her eyes flutter open slightly.

“I love you,” I tell her, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“I love you too,” she murmurs, and she’s asleep again.

James gives her a kiss and follows me out of the room.

I wait for him in the hallway, ensuring the baby gate is secure before heading downstairs. James trails behind me into the kitchen, where I pour two glasses of wine.

“You drink wine?” he asks me.

“I’m a twenty-one-year-old student mom with two jobs, what do you think?”

He chuckles softly, shaking his head.

“I’m going to whip up something to eat, care to join me?”

“Sure, I could eat.”

I laugh at his response. “When can’t you eat?”

“Fair point,” he concedes.

I reheat some leftover pasta in the microwave, then slump down at the kitchen table with a long sigh.

“You okay?” he asks me.

“No,” I admit.

He takes my hand in his. “It’s going to be all right.”

I nod at him, taking a sip of my wine. I hope he’s right. I just hope and pray to God that it will be all right.

“I just don’t want to face them. Can you imagine what they’ll do if they see her? Call her Satan’s child?

“I can’t put her through that. I just can’t. They can say anything they want about me. I don’t care, I know better. I know what I am and what I’m not.”

“They actually said that?” he asks.

I give a nod. “Always the drama queens,” I comment, my eyes rolling in a playful manner.

He gives a shudder. “Yeah.”

“How are we going to handle this?” he questions.

“We?”

“Yeah, I’m not letting you face this alone. And certainly not with Liv. They don’t deserve the joy of meeting her,” he declares.

“I appreciate that. I respect your wish to keep her away from them. But I also know Liz will go ballistic if she’s left behind while I’m there. Plus, it’s a six-hour drive to Sun Peaks, so we’ll need to spend the night.”

“Let me take care of it. My folks live there too, remember. Maybe we could bunk with them and leave Liv with them when we go to confront your parents.”

~Yeah, sure… and what about the fact that they have a grandkid they’ve never met?~

“Right—before or after they murder me?” I retort, my hand slapping down on the table.

“We’ll head out next week. This way you can sort out your classes and I can plan our trip.”

“Fine.”