It never failed to send emotion jumping into his throat whenever his daughter mentioned his girlfriend. “Of course. And she can help too, because she’s coming over later.” He kissed the top of his daughter’s head. “She got the job.”
“Yay! She got it like she said she would, so if I work hard, I can get this part.” Ellie clapped her hands. “We need to make Livvy a card, like you made me one when I got the prize for bestest reader last term.”
“Best reader, and yeah, that’s a good idea.”
As soon as they stepped through the front door, Ellie dashed upstairs to get her felt pens and ordered him to find some paper. He tested her on her lines as she worked, figuring correctly that she could multitask. Girl power and all that.
By the time Olivia messaged to say she was on the way, they had a card decorated with horses and a rosette declaring she was number one, plus a banner. They also had an explosion of paper, pens, glue, and glitter across every surface in the kitchen.
He’d just started to clear up the mess when the doorbell sounded.
Ellie, clutching the card she’d made, dashed ahead of him and flung the door open.
“Dad says you got that big job.” As he settled his hands on his daughter’s shoulders, she pushed the card into a stunned Olivia’s hands. “We made this for you. Well, I made it, but Dad helped do the rosette because I can’t draw them.”
Olivia’s eyes jumped to his and he saw a flash of panic cross her face, which instantly set his body on edge. Something was wrong.
But whatever it was, it couldn’t be said in front of Ellie.
He watched Olivia swallow and force a bright smile on her face as she looked down at the card. “This is beautiful, Ellie. Thank you so much.” She pressed a kiss on Ellie’s head. “I will treasure it.”
Again her eyes met his, and Connor could tell she wanted to talk.
“I’ve got lines to learn for the Christmas play. It’s calledStraw and Orderand Miss Green says I would make a good Judge Grumpy but I have to auuu...” His daughter glanced up at him for help, but for once he couldn’t focus on her.
Not with Olivia looking like she was about tocry.
“Why don’t you go and practice your lines in the living room, then Livvy will come and listen to you,” Connor suggested.
With a vehement nod, Ellie scampered off.
Heart in his mouth, he slid his hands down Olivia’s arms. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, not really.” Her brittle smile did little to convince him. “I’ll tell you later, when Ellie’s gone to bed.” Her gaze drifted down to the card. “This is... it’s so lovely.” Her voice broke on the words.
“It was her idea.” He took for her hands, entwined his fingers with hers. “Whatever’s troubling you, we’ll work through it.” He smiled with a confidence he hoped wasn’t misplaced. “For now, go and help my daughter get this part she wants.” He kissed her temple. “Not sure whether you realize this, but thanks to you, she thinks she can do anything if she works hard enough.”
Chapter 34
Helping a very lively, talkative little girl go through her lines temporarily took Olivia’s mind off the meeting she’d had earlier with Simon and the head of HR.
Briefly she glanced over at Connor, who was clearing up Ellie’s creative mess while also preparing whatever he’d decided to make them for dinner.
As if aware of her eyes on him, he looked up and gave her a crooked smile. Instantly the butterflies in her stomach began a frenzy of wing-flapping.
God, for once in her life, she didn’t know what to do.
“Livvy?” Ellie said.
Guiltily she focused back on the lines she was supposed to be reading.
When it was time to eat, they sat around the island in the kitchen, Ellie’s legs dangling from the bar stool as she piled the chicken fajita mix onto her tortilla wrap. Connor kept the conversation moving as they talked and ate. A typical Monday night for most families.
Olivia struggled to swallow even a mouthful down her tight throat.
She’d never felt so conflicted, so uncertain of where she saw her life heading.
Nor had her heart ever felt so heavy.
