Zola through. But Oliver, who was sitting close, warmed her more. They sat on the edge of the brick hearth, watching Lauren play with Becky. The little girl’s brow furrowed in concentration while her fingers negotiated a button on the doll’s jacket. Oliver’s parents had made themselves scarce. They’d gone for a walk, claiming they wanted to burn off lunch, but Zola knew better.
She sat there with Oliver now, a question on her lips.
“I know what you’re going to say,” Oliver whispered, never taking his eyes off Lauren.
Zola remained quiet, waiting for him to go on. After a minute, he turned to her.
“It’s not something you want to tell somebody in a text message.”
Zola nodded, somber.
“You have to understand, I’m very protective,” he continued. “Jill left a few years ago. She could never accept Lauren as she is. But emotionally, she’d checked out a long time before that. The fact that my daughter’s own mother walked out on her is something I’ll struggle with for the rest of my life. It’s something Lauren’s going to have to come to terms with eventually. And who knows, maybe she never will.”
Zola put a hand on Oliver’s arm, wishing she could take some of his pain away. Lauren’s too. And also wishing she could pop Jill Tworek a good one right in the kisser.
“I guess wanting to protect her is one of the reasons I didn’t tell you right away. People always get this look, like they feel sorry for you. For her. And just look at her.” He nodded toward his daughter who was now talking in soft, gentle tones to her doll. “You were right last night when you said she was a gift. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t stand the thought of anyone thinking otherwise.”
“Oliver, I’d never—”
He turned to her again. “I knew you very well once, and I think you’re an amazing woman, Zola. But I had to be sure. I wanted to see your reaction myself. In person. I felt like that was the only way to tell if you’d be able to handle it. Or want to handle it even. I’m sorry if that was selfish.”
She put a finger to his lips. “Don’t you dare be sorry. You’re trusting me with getting to know the most important person in your life. That means more than I could ever say.”
He nodded solemnly, searching her face for a few long seconds. “We’re a package deal, Zo. I know it’s early, but if it’s something you think you’re going to have a hard time with, I should know now. Not later.”
A guarded expression had crept over his face, something she could only guess would take some time and trust to ease. The crinkles at the corners of his eyes reminded her of tributaries threading away from a river. They were deep and emotion filled, coming from years of being on the water and under the sun. How handsome he was. How beautiful, inside and out.
She took his hand and nodded. So many things were running through her mind, so many replies to that hesitant, painful statement. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him over and over. But most of all, she wanted him to know how she felt. Really felt. Looking up, she saw that his mouth had relaxed just a little. Maybe, deep down, he already knew.
“I’ll tell you one thing,” she said, her voice hitching in her throat. “A package deal is something I could get used to.”
About Kaylie Newell
Kaylie Newell lives at the base of the mountains in Southern Oregon with her husband, two little girls, two cats, and a mutt named Pedro who goes everywhere with her. When she isn’t writing, she’s usually watching a Channing Tatum movie or eating frozen waffles, or both.
Kaylie’s Website:
www.kaylienewell.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
She sat there with Oliver now, a question on her lips.
“I know what you’re going to say,” Oliver whispered, never taking his eyes off Lauren.
Zola remained quiet, waiting for him to go on. After a minute, he turned to her.
“It’s not something you want to tell somebody in a text message.”
Zola nodded, somber.
“You have to understand, I’m very protective,” he continued. “Jill left a few years ago. She could never accept Lauren as she is. But emotionally, she’d checked out a long time before that. The fact that my daughter’s own mother walked out on her is something I’ll struggle with for the rest of my life. It’s something Lauren’s going to have to come to terms with eventually. And who knows, maybe she never will.”
Zola put a hand on Oliver’s arm, wishing she could take some of his pain away. Lauren’s too. And also wishing she could pop Jill Tworek a good one right in the kisser.
“I guess wanting to protect her is one of the reasons I didn’t tell you right away. People always get this look, like they feel sorry for you. For her. And just look at her.” He nodded toward his daughter who was now talking in soft, gentle tones to her doll. “You were right last night when you said she was a gift. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t stand the thought of anyone thinking otherwise.”
“Oliver, I’d never—”
He turned to her again. “I knew you very well once, and I think you’re an amazing woman, Zola. But I had to be sure. I wanted to see your reaction myself. In person. I felt like that was the only way to tell if you’d be able to handle it. Or want to handle it even. I’m sorry if that was selfish.”
She put a finger to his lips. “Don’t you dare be sorry. You’re trusting me with getting to know the most important person in your life. That means more than I could ever say.”
He nodded solemnly, searching her face for a few long seconds. “We’re a package deal, Zo. I know it’s early, but if it’s something you think you’re going to have a hard time with, I should know now. Not later.”
A guarded expression had crept over his face, something she could only guess would take some time and trust to ease. The crinkles at the corners of his eyes reminded her of tributaries threading away from a river. They were deep and emotion filled, coming from years of being on the water and under the sun. How handsome he was. How beautiful, inside and out.
She took his hand and nodded. So many things were running through her mind, so many replies to that hesitant, painful statement. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him over and over. But most of all, she wanted him to know how she felt. Really felt. Looking up, she saw that his mouth had relaxed just a little. Maybe, deep down, he already knew.
“I’ll tell you one thing,” she said, her voice hitching in her throat. “A package deal is something I could get used to.”
About Kaylie Newell
Kaylie Newell lives at the base of the mountains in Southern Oregon with her husband, two little girls, two cats, and a mutt named Pedro who goes everywhere with her. When she isn’t writing, she’s usually watching a Channing Tatum movie or eating frozen waffles, or both.
Kaylie’s Website:
www.kaylienewell.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
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