“Yeah, I just needed to take a call from my mom in Texas. I’m getting right back on the return. I just need to do a self-review before I send it back up.”
“Olivia, I saw you.” Tears start to form in my eyes again. “Maybe you need to take some time off after the deadline, take a step back.”
“What? No. I’m fine. I can’tleave.I’m almost to senior. Youknowmy goals.”
“It’d just be a couple of months off so you can get the help you need and learn how to control your anxiety. You’re one of our top staff. I’m certain the tax managing partner will allow you to take a leave of absence if it means keeping you around. You can probably even get promoted on time.”
“No—”
She crosses her arms in a stern way that immediately makes me stop talking. “You haven’t been producing the same quality of work I’ve come to expect from you over the last month or two, and someone needs to look out for you if you’re not going to do it for yourself. I think you should start with three months off, and we can re-evaluate after that.”
This is my worst nightmare.
ChapterTwo
Rhett
There’snothing I love more than spending Sunday mornings with Jack and Mandi Parker, but something feels off the moment I walk into the door this morning.
There’s still the usual fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a full plate of pancakes already on the table while more cook on the griddle.Their two dogs, Daisy and Barley, greet me as usual with Daisy pawing at me and Barley nuzzling his snout into my hand until I pet him. But when Mandi wraps me up in a hug, it feels wrong. The joy that usually radiates off her is replaced by nerves that make the back of my neck prickle.
“Is everything okay?”
I watch her carefully, trying to get a read on the situation. Mandi and her husband, Jack, have become like family to me over the two years they’ve been in Roots. They’ve fed me, watched sports with me, and even invited me over for holidays. My own parents didn’t care for me half as much as Jack and Mandi have, so, naturally, seeing the Parkers in any sign of distress immediately sends me into overprotective mode.
“Everything is great. Sit down, Rhett. Let’s eat,” Mandi insists, plating the last of the pancakes and handing them to Jack.
“They smell delicious, honey.” He gives her a soft kiss on the cheek, and she graciously accepts. The sight settles me the slightest bit.
I follow them into the dining room and take my usual seat at the table. Instead of explaining to me why it feels like I’m at a funeral instead of Sunday morning breakfast, Jack grabs some pancakes, and Mandi hands me a bowl of fruit. I follow suit, pouring syrup over the top of my pancakes, but internally, I’m processing each possible thing that could make these wonderful humans seem so uneasy.
Then it hits me.Olivia.What’s she done now?Last week, Mandi seemed to be upset over a phone call she had with her. That has to be it.
Jack sips his coffee before breaking the crippling silence. “I believe Mandi told you that Olivia was having some trouble at work?”
“Yeah. Is everything okay?”
Mandi straightens in her seat. “Our little Olivia has always been an anxious ball of perfection. Her anxiety works for her most of the time. It helped her work hard to get into a great college and earn her dream job after school. The issue is when her anxiety doesn’t help her, and she has these… episodes.”
“What do you mean by episodes?”
Looking frazzled, Mandi turns to her husband. Through a mouthful of pancake, Jack replies, “She means panic attacks.”
“Jack!”
“Well, they are. She seemed to have her anxiety under control after college. That’s what gave us the confidence to leave her on her own and move here, but I guess work has been very stressful lately. She works as a tax accountant, and they work really long hours with hard deadlines. I guess the episodes—” Jack looks to his wife, who nods along appreciatively. “The episodes have been coming back, and her coach at work suggested she take time off to get some help.”
“That sounds very reasonable. I can watch the house and the animals if you two want to go to check on Olivia. I can’t believe you’d think you’d even need to ask me. Go for however long you’d like. I know I work long days on the ranch, but I can talk to Austin and make it work.”
Mandi grimaces. “That’s not exactly what we were going to ask. Although wedoappreciate the offer.”
“I’m just trying to make up for all the things you’ve done for me,” I insist. And I mean it. I’ve allowed very few people into my life since coming to Roots four years ago, but the Parkers are an exception.
Jack sets his fork down, beaming with pride. “Our little girl is a high achiever and she doesn’t want to leave her job, but some time off to learn how to manage her anxiety will be good for her. She starts her leave of absence in about a week, and she’ll be off for three months. Since she didn’t want us to come to San Francisco, we convinced her to come to Roots. This way we can help support her, and she can enjoy the slower lifestyle Roots has to offer.”
“You must be so excited to have her here.”
“We are. The only problem is she doesn’t want to live with us. She said the leave of absence is humiliation enough and living with her parents after being on her own for two years would apparently add to that. That’s where we are hoping you could come in.” Jack winces. “Would you be willing to rent out that little cabin you have on your property to her?”
