Kathy had warned her a week ago, and she was right. Olivia thought if they stayed on the move Royce wouldn’t have a chance of finding them, but it had come at a cost to her daughter. She was trying to be a better mother and give Ivy the life she had denied her before. Despite how things ended with Heath, she couldn’t force Ivy to move again.
Somehow, someway, she would get out of this shitty neighborhood and not look over her shoulder all the time. She would make enough money that they could have the luxuries she had been denying Ivy the past few months, like new clothes and brand name food, instead of knock off.
Chapter 22
“Thank you for the ride.” Olivia said, unbuckling her belt. She thought for a moment about inviting him in, but the trailer was tiny, and there was barely room for two people let alone three.
“Sure.” He stared straight ahead.
Olivia started to get out of the car with nothing left to say. This was it, this was goodbye.
“Olivia,” Heath called. “Before I forget.” He held out her phone to her.
“Thanks,” She mumbled taking it and stuffing it in her back pocket.
“About that talk.”
Olivia didn’t want to talk, but she might as well get it over with. She told him they would. She would explain why she didn’t tell him about Ivy, and that would be that. He didn’t need to know about anything else.
“Let me just getIvyinside, and then we can talk.”
“Not going to invite me in?” He chuckled, his scowl momentarily gone, but then he held up a hand, when she would have protested. “It’s fine. It was a joke. Take care of your daughter. I’ll be waiting outside.”
Olivia nodded and got out. At least, he didn’t grimace, saying daughter this time.Ivywas hot on her trail, as they walked inside.Olivia thought she caught the scent of cigar smoke, as they entered the house, but when she tried smelling it again, it was gone. Odd, she didn’t think any of her neighbors smoked.
“Mom, I don’t trust him.”Ivywhispered, as soon as they stepped inside and closed the door.“What if he hurts you for lying to him?”
“Heath is not like Royce. He would never hurt you.” She assured her for what felt like the hundredth time. She would keep assuring her, until Ivy finally believed her.
“Did you see the way he looked at me? Like he had never seen a kid before.”
Olivia had noticed the strain on Heath’s face, as he was barely holding onto his anger. She had lied by omission to him, and he was probably hurt and confused. Olivia could have told him at any time she had a daughter but hadn’t. Secretly, she enjoyed his pursuit and seeing him every day. While she didn’t want to be another notch in his bedpost, she did enjoy being around him. He was an attentive lover and a great listener. Heath made her happy, whenever he was around.
“That doesn’t mean he’s untrustworthy. He’s just had a shock. The past few days I’ve gotten to know him he never once gave me any reason to believe he would ever hurt me.”
“You said the same thing about Royce and look what happened.”Ivystormed into the bedroom, as Olivia followed her.
“Ivy, that isn’t fair. I made a mistake with Royce, but there are more nicer guys in this world than bad.”
“You like him.” There was no anger in her tone only curiosity.
“I do,” Olivia admitted. She expectedIvyto argue or to say anything, but she didn’t. Ivy hadn’t been fully onboard, when Olivia started going out with Heath. She purposely kept Ivy away from Heath, so Ivy could warm up to the idea of another man in their life. Maybe one day, she’d find a man that could change Ivy’s mind about men. To teach her to trust again. Olivia could only hope.
“No, I mean you like him. Like you did Dad.”
Olivia could only nod not knowing what to say. She and Heath had instantly clicked, once she gave him a chance. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to talk to Heath for a minute. I’ll be outside if you need me.”
“Mom,” Ivy said, when she reached the door. “I’m sorry for saying what I did about Royce. You couldn’t have known what kind of person he was. I don’t blame you for what happened to us.”
But she blamed herself. At the very least, she should have told someone, instead of just running away, like a coward. Olivia had given up everything to escape Royce, even her job without a word. It wasn’t something Royce was likely to forget. He had been using her contacts to import and export his goods right from under her nose.
She should have turned him in, when she witnessed what she saw, but he had so many organizations in his pocket that she was afraid he would have killed her, before there was even a trial. Knowing her luck, he would have gotten off scot free.
That was all behind them now. She made sure there was no trace of them for him to find. As long as they lived the way they had been, they would be safe.
“I won’t let anything ever happen to you again, Ivy. I promise.”
“I know, Mom.” Ivy gave her an encouraging smile. “Do you think Heath will forgive you?”
