Olivia’s heart thumped hard in her chest and panic zipped through her as she waited for the man to turn around.Was it Adam or was she panicking for nothing.
Charlie’s voice broke into her terror.“Olivia?Are you okay?What’s wrong?”
She blew out a breath and opened the truck door just in case.“I’m okay.That man reminded me of someone I used to know.Let’s get Ella into her car seat.Don’t want either of you to see the boxes, and spoil the Christmas surprises.”
Charlie nodded, but his frown remained.He turned to look at the men helping Nash.Olivia kept her head down as she lifted Ella into the seat.The slight tint on the windows should help conceal her identity even if it was Adam.
It couldn’t be him.The odds were astronomical that he would work at the store where she’d bought snowshoes.The group home wasn’t even in the same borough.
Once, Ella was in the seat, Olivia grabbed one of Charlie’s ball caps and put it on.She kept her head angled so she’d be difficult to identify and then looked through the truck’s rear window.The men were loading the first boxes now.
When the man turned, he smiled and said something to Nash.
Not Adam.It wasn’t Adam.Ella was safe.
Relief had her limbs wobbling and Olivia rested her head on Ella’s hair.“You’re safe baby girl.It’s not him.”
Olivia moved to the front seat and Charlie climbed in the back.They shut the doors and Olivia locked them.While the man wasn’t Adam, fear continued to ripple through her.
Coming to New York had been stupid.She’d put her daughter at risk to enhance her career.Sure that career would help secure Ella Mae’s future, but her safety was more important.
What kind of mother was she?
Chapter14
Twists And Turns
Olivia watched Nash wave off the men and slam the tailgate closed.
The man who resembled Adam smiled, waved, and returned to the store.Definitely not the man she feared.Still, it took two tries for her to unlock the door for Nash to climb in.
He took one look at her, and then turned to check on the kids in the back.Ella Mae babbled his name, but Charlie wasn’t smiling.“What’s wrong?”
She’d already relocked the doors, even as Nash’s hand reached to do the same.His gaze returned to hers.“What happened?”
Olivia shrugged.“Nothing.I thought I recognized one of the men, but it wasn’t who I thought.”
Nash grabbed her hand and turned to look out the back window, but the men had disappeared inside.“You’re sure?”
She nodded.“Positive.From the back, he looked similar, but it was a different man.”
Nash squeezed her hand and she rolled her lips together to keep herself from bubbling up with tears of relief.
“She was really scared, Dad.”Charlie’s concern was evident in his tone as well as the words.
Blinking back as much emotion as she could, Olivia turned to him.She reached through the seats and squeezed his hand.“You’re right, Charlie.The man I thought he was isn’t a nice person.I didn’t want him near you or Ella Mae.I’m sorry I overreacted.”
Charlie didn’t smile.“You didn’t overreact.You got us all inside the truck in case it was him.And you made sure he couldn’t see you to recognize you.”
She took off his ball cap and handed it back.“Thanks, Charlie.”
Nash sighed.“You did all the right things to keep you and the kids safe.Thanks.”
She managed a small smile, even though her reaction had put Charlie on alert to the problem.
The boy still hadn’t smiled.“Are you and Ella in danger?Does he want to hurt you?”
Olivia kept the sigh internal as she looked to Nash for guidance.She didn’t want to scare Charlie, but he was intuitive and knew something was wrong.Nash nodded at her, so she turned back to Charlie.Ella had fallen asleep beside him and the sight bolstered her with love for these two kids.
