Olivia ran as fast as she could down the three blocks to Kathy’s house. After receiving a text from Kathy, saying Ivy threw up, she couldn’t get out of the bar fast enough. Guilt washed over her. She never should have left with Heath to go to the bar, as much fun as she had. She loved his friends. She didn’t talk to any of the men, but the women had been great.
She had been nervous not only at being recognized, but not knowing what to say to these women. Heath didn’t date, and here he was bringing her to meet his friends, though it hadn’t looked willingly. After Heath left to get drinks, they had swooped down on her like vultures for the kill, only they had been so kind and welcoming. There weren’t probing questions about her and Heath’s relationship. They only asked questions about her. Cora, if she remembered right, seemed to be the one to ask the most questions. She could see herself hanging out with them more. She surprisingly wanted, too. Normally, Olivia didn’t get along with people. She was a loner, but they didn’t make her feel that way. Too bad the night had been cut short.
By the time she made it to Kathy’s house, she was panting. Man, she was out of shape.
She banged on the door, until Kathy answered looking wide-eyed. “Good lord, Olivia. Did you run here?”
“Yes,” she panted still trying to catch her breath. “You said Ivy threw up.”
“I was just letting you know. I didn’t mean to cause you distress. She seems to be feeling better. Ivy’s sitting on the couch, watching a movie with Susan.” Kathy indicated with a finger over her shoulder. Olivia looked around Kathy, and sure enough, Ivy was smiling, watching a movie. She did look better than, when she saw her an hour ago.
Olivia sagged against the doorframe. Ivy was okay.
“You’re looking a little shaky yourself. Why don’t you come sit down?” Kathy pulled her inside to take a seat in the rocking chair in the living room.
Ivy looked over at her, her smile dropping. “Mom, are you alright?” Ivy asked concerned.
“I’m fine.” She waved off, her breathing and heart rate back under control. “Are you feeling better?” She knew Kathy had told her, and she could see for herself that Ivy was looking better, but she wanted to hear it from Ivy herself.
“I am. Whatever was going on seems to be gone now.”
“I’m glad.” Olivia didn’t have enough money saved up, if they needed to go to the doctors. Maybe, it was a weird bug that came and went. Ivy hardly ever got sick. She had a pretty hardy constitution. “Are you ready to go home?”
“But Mom,” Ivy started to complain.
Kathy beat her to it. “She’s feeling better, Olivia. So, there’s no reason you can’t go back out and enjoy the night with Heath.”
As nice as it sounded, she couldn’t. How would she explain her absence? She thought her daughter was sick but was fine. A daughter no one knew she had. That was a conversation she didn’t want in front of Heath’s friends. To have their cold, hard judgmental eyes fixated on her. That they welcomed her into their fold only to have her keeping a big secret from their friend.
“I think it’s best we call it a night. Ivy needs to rest.”
“I said I was feeling better.” Ivy grumbled, folding her arms over her chest.
“Just the same.” Olivia said firmly. She made it a point to never yell at Ivy. Royce had done enough of that to scar Ivy for the rest of her life. “Your body needs rest. If you’re still doing well tomorrow, you can spend the night with Susan, if it’s alright with Kathy.” Tomorrow, was Olivia’s day off, and she needed some time to look for another job. She would also have to come up with some excuse for leaving without saying anything to Heath. Olivia had told the women she had an emergency, and they hadn’t questioned her, but Heath would.
It was time to finally tell him the truth. She couldn’t keep the charade up forever, nor did she want, too. She was already living a lie, and they all seemed to be piling up on her, and she couldn’t keep them balanced anymore. Tomorrow, she would tell him. Tonight, she needed to get her thoughts in order.
Ivy whooped and started gathering her things, talking a hundred miles a second to Susan about what they were going to do tomorrow. Olivia watched with a smile. Ivy was finally getting to live like a normal kid. No high fences or security. No one yelling at her or scaring her. She was finally free to be a regular kid.
“Olivia, how was tonight, really?” Kathy whispered to her, even though the girls left the room for Susan’s bedroom.
“It was really nice.” She told Kathy honestly. “I met Heath’s friends and their girlfriends.”
“Did you now?” Kathy asked bug-eyed. “What did you think of them?”
“They’re great. The women surrounded me and welcomed me with open arms.” It had been great. They had been great. Friendlier than she expected.
“I knew it.” Kathy squealed with joy. “I knew you would be perfect for Heath.”
“Kathy, were you trying to play match maker?” Olivia gave her a critical eye. She should have known better.
“Of course, I was.” She wasn’t even ashamed of it. “The moment I saw Heath follow you into the diner a month ago, I knew. Took you two long enough to get together.” Kathy hmphed.
Olivia didn’t know what to say. The woman who was her boss, and she thought was her friend was purposely trying to set her and Heath up. She didn’t know how she should feel about that. Not that she could give Kathy credit for her and Heath actually getting together. That was just the two of them, but after tomorrow, she had a feeling that would no longer be the case.
“I still haven’t told him about Ivy.” Olivia clarified.
“What?” Came a younger voice.
