A woman not much taller than her peaked her head in. “Lexi?” She smiled. “I’m Olivia. Trevor’s friend. You mind if I come in?”
“Sure.”
Olivia was beautiful. She had chestnut brown hair and beautiful hazel eyes. Dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt, Lexi noticed she also had a very kind smile. One that she was very familiar with.
Holy crap! Jake’s married to Olivia Bradshaw!
The woman made her way around the foot of the bed and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Alexis. But, you can call me Lexi,” she added quickly, returning the gesture and shaking Olivia’s hand.
“Hi, Lexi. I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances.”
She sounded so nice and genuine in person. Having followed the story of her supposed death and then her miraculous rescue, Lexi knew this woman would understand her fears better than anyone else. Oddly, that helped her relax some.
“Yeah, it’s been a crazy week, for sure.”
Olivia smiled wider. “Sounds like it.” She tilted her head toward the bed. “You want to sit and talk for a bit?”
“Okay.” Lexi felt silly for being so scared about tonight after everythingthiswoman had endured.
Sitting on the edge of the bed. Lexi clasped her hands nervously in her lap. She wasn’t used to feeling this way, and wasn’t quite sure how to handle it. Even during the worst times with her mom, she’d never felt as though she were weak...until tonight.
Before her mom died, Lexi had no doubt the faithful, God-fearing woman would be going to a better place once she left this earth. Lexi had also been confident enough to believe she’d be okay on her own. Before this past week, she had been.
It hadn’t always been easy, but she’d kept herself afloat without anyone else’s help. Now, after everything that had happened, she was beginning to doubt herself...and she hated it.
“I hope you aren’t upset with Trevor for letting me come here,” Olivia said softly. “I didn’t really give him much of a choice.” The other woman smiled.
“Really? Why?”
“I was with my husband when Derek called earlier. After Jake got home from your place, I called Trevor. When he told me more about you and what all had happened, I had to make sure you were both okay.”
Lexi wasn’t quite sure how she was supposed to respond to that, so she stayed quiet.
“Trevor’s one of my husband’s best friends. During the past two years, he’s become one of mine, as well. He’s like a second brother to me.”
“Oh,” Lexi said quietly. And because she felt like she was being deceitful, even though she really wasn’t, she admitted, “I...I know who you are. I mean, I recognize you from when you were on the news a few months ago.”
Olivia simply smiled. “I figured you did. People get a certain look in their eye when they figure out I’mthatOlivia.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...”
“Oh, no,” Olivia interrupted her. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. I just didn’t want you feeling like you couldn’t mention it or anything. It was a major event in my life, and even though it was beyond horrible, what happened to me brought Jake and I closer together. So, I try to focus on that,” she said with a smile.
A few seconds of silence passed before Olivia laughed. “Well, now that the superbly awkward introductions have been made...Trevor told me you work in a diner, but hope to own your own restaurant someday.”
“Someday, yeah.” Lexi nodded, though she was beginning to accept that particular dream would never come true.
“Well, let’s see. What should I tell you about myself that you don’t already know? I’m a nurse...wait, you probably know that, right?” When Lexi nodded, Olivia went on to explain she no longer worked in the public hospital system. “I work at a private medical facility owned by Homeland Security now.”
“Oh, wow. That sounds exciting.”
Olivia shrugged a shoulder. “It is. Except when they bring in someone from Alpha Team. That’s the one part of my husband’s job I hate.”
Lexi could understand that. She’d been on edge the entire time Trevor had been gone. “How do you deal with it. The fear of something happening to him while he’s on an op?”
The other woman gave her a sad smile. “After everything I went through, I guess I learned that life is short for us all, no matter what our jobs are. I mean, don’t get me wrong...I can’t imagine my life without Jake. But, if something happened to him while he was away on a job, I’d like to think I could at least find comfort in knowing he died doing what he loved...helping those who need it most.”
