by Lori Flynn
“Once again, Elizabeth needs Olivia so she’ll look good in the press. She pulls at her heartstrings with children and a dying husband. She shouldn’t go, but if she insists, she can’t go there alone,” Catherine said, directing the last part of her comment at Ben.
“Don’t worry, Catherine. I’ll take care of it. You have my word that no harm will come to Olivia if she goes.”
“Hold on; I haven’t even decided,” Olivia chimed in. “I’d love to see, need to see Samuel and Shelby again. But I could never say the same about my mother.”
“Exactly how old is Vernon Crawford going to be? It doesn’t say on the invitation,” Catherine asked, tossing the gilded envelope onto the table. “He must be close to eighty. What gift is appropriate for an old man, confined to a wheelchair and married to a viper, on his birthday?”
“Cyanide, I suppose,” Nanny answered.
Ben slid the invitation into his pocket, giving his promise to proceed with the legal issues. Olivia pledged to make a firm decision whether to attend the birthday bash and counted on all present to respect her decision. Catherine agreed to remain composed, contingent entirely on Olivia’s word not to go near Elizabeth without back-up. And with that, the impromptu meeting was adjourned.
Catherine and Nanny, staying the night, meandered up the staircase to settle in. Ben reluctantly took his cue and headed toward the door. He wondered when, or if, Olivia would let down her guard to trust him, if it would ever be him on the stairs. When she leaned in to kiss him, lingering, savoring every moment before burying her face against his throat, he remembered why he waited. He’d envisioned his day ending differently than alone in another cold shower.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Olivia
Olivia awoke at dawn, excited about setting up the special breakfast she’d planned for three of her favorite women. She smiled, peering down the shoreline, watching from the veranda as her grandmother, Gretchen, and Nanny walked arms linked and barefoot toward her. When they gathered around the table, Catherine and Gretchen traded stories from as far back as high school, which had her and Nanny laughing and hopelessly shocked.
Gretchen grinned at Olivia while they watched over the dogs romping along the beach. It was as if they’d never known another way of life, although their audience knew better. They shared camaraderie. Lily, the only female, seemed more of a follower, where Buckley, the oldest, took the role of protector. Olivia considered Webster too much of a free spirit for a label. After all, Dr. Hunter still hadn’t said exactly what breed the Sheltie was mixed with. He could be part unicorn, for all she cared. She just wanted him to know he was safe and loved.
“They look like they’re adjusting to their new environment and each other quite well. I’m sure that’s mostly because of you, Olivia,” Gretchen said, watching the dogs chase each other through the sand. “Have you made any headway with Webster’s eating habits?”
“I appreciate the kind words. I get plenty of help. Maria and Christian treat them like family. It does take twice as long to get things done with this crew around, but they make me happy. And I thought we were making real progress with Webster until yesterday, when he started his sombrero diet.”
“Maybe he thought he needed more fiber,” Nanny offered in the dog’s defense.
“These things take time, Olivia. I’m sure Hunter told you that. Up until a very short time ago, Webster’s entire existence was a struggle. Give him time to see that replacing all the bad with good helps. Most times it does.”
Olivia gazed out over the water. “And sometimes it’s too late. But I’ll love him anyway.”
All too soon the car arrived and returned Catherine and Nanny to Harding Towers while Gretchen gave into her nagging cell phone and headed back to her office. Before she left, she encouraged her employee to take the time to catch her breath and enjoy the remainder of the day. Olivia, of course, planned to work late that evening and make up lost time.
Before dressing for the office, Olivia opted for a mind-clearing run on the beach, where she led, chased and was followed by her four-legged family. But, as she navigated the roadways, her opera blaring through closed tinted windows, she was no closer to a decision about attending her mother’s party than the night before. Her healthy curiosity toward her step-siblings remained and had heightened since seeing the picture. Was it worth venturing back into that house and facing her mother? She hoped a day’s work would help.
Once settled at her desk, sipping coffee from a mug whose size compared to an urn, Olivia did what she did best, buried her mind in work. She dug out ledgers, recalculating numbers she knew were in perfect balance, moving on to challenge herself with possibilities for future fund-raisers, making lists and taking notes. It wasn’t until what resided in her coffee pot resembled a substance close to tar and the natural lighting around her had all but disappeared that she reluctantly decided to head home. She straightened her desk and made her way through the echoing hallway. Throwing the board a mindless glance at the exit, her progress ended.
“I noticed your board hadn’t been updated this afternoon. Has anyone been here to assist you?” she asked.
“Hi, Olivia,” a bustling woman who towered over the desk called out to her. “As you can see, some of our guests haven’t been walked since early this morning. At this time of the year, most of our student volunteers disappear, between studying for exams and worrying about proms. The highly academic ones have already satisfied the community service hours they need for school programs. We will be a little short-handed for the next several weeks.”
“I can pitch in.” Olivia pulled sneakers from her bag, changing out of her heels, before taking the leash for what looked to be a black Pit mix. “How about we go stretch your legs for a while?” she said.
She continued, affording all the opportunity to walk. Some were excited just to be outside; a few seemed anxious to go back to sleep. When the last leash was returned to its holder, she replaced her heels.
“Thanks, Olivia. I was watching you. You were talking to them, all of them. Mind if I ask what you were saying?”
“I don’t know; current events, the weather may be.” She laughed softly. “I’ll try and remember to check the board before I leave at night from now on. But if you need help, call my extension.”
Once alone, the laughter left her face. It was hard to admit that she’d made too big a deal over one decision and felt the need to talk it over with a kennel of dogs. People would think her mad, especially if they knew it had worked.
At home, with her mind at last calm, settled, she maneuvered the darkened foyer. She let her overstuffed bag roll from her shoulder and her shoes slip from her feet, padding barefoot toward the stairs. Second thoughts of having to surgically remove her shoes from Webster’s digestive system had her double back to retrieve them, before heading to her room.
In the shadows, she made out three fur covered heads, one of which lifted to determine who entered. “It’s me, Buckley,” she whispered, kissing his yellow face. “You’re always the protector. Go back to sleep. I love you to pieces.”
She indulged in a long hot bath, defaulting to her most comfortable old sweats, salvaged from her college days. Maria had threatened to dispose of them on more than one occasion because of their shabby appearance. Slipping her cell phone into the back pocket, she made her way to the kitchen before the familiar draw of the water had her ankle deep and roving down the desolate beach.
When she lost sight of Casa Nonna, she turned back. From a well-padded chair on the veranda, hugging her knees to her chest, she pulled out her phone and dialed, waiting as it rang. She was ready to hang up when she heard his deep, sluggish voice.
“Bennett Thornton.”
“Ben, it’s Olivia, did I wake you?”
“No, I had to get up and answer the phone anyway.”
“I’m sorry, Ben.”
“Are you all right?”
“Fine, that’s why I called. I finally decided to attend my mothe
r’s birthday bash, as long as I know you’ll be there with me. It may be my only opportunity to see my step-siblings while they’re children. You know, to make sure they’re okay.”
“Let me see if I’ve got this,” Ben yawned. “You woke me up at 1:30 in the morning because you decided to go to a party?”
“Ben, I’m sorry. I lost track of time. I honestly thought it was much earlier.” She stopped apologizing when she heard his husky laugh.
“Olivia, I’m glad you made your decision. And of course, I’ll go with you. Now, if you’re as sorry as you say you are, tell me what you’re wearing.”
She hardly had a moment to come up with a response before his deep rhythmic snore filtered through the phone. “Goodnight Ben,” she whispered and then disconnected. Ready for sleep, she chose the large dog bed, where Buckley could keep a protective eye over her too.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Olivia
Olivia loved dressing for formal events. Preparing for her mother’s party felt like a chore. She glanced at the violet Vera Wang gown on its hanger. The iridescent shimmering beads were powerless in improving her somber mood, all while her hairstylist performed magic with an elegant updo. Her grandmother’s timely phone call took the edge off, but only briefly.
Ben in his tuxedo, a sight that could bring Giorgio Armani to his knees, cleared her mind of the anxiety she’d let fester.
“Hello, gorgeous,” Olivia said from the bottom of the long staircase.
“I think that’s my line.” Ben’s breath caught in his throat.
“If I knew you looked this hot in a tux, I would’ve changed the dress code for our business meetings.”
He grinned. “I’m starting to think this evening may be tougher for me than for you.”
Olivia led him outside, where the long sleek limousine she’d arranged had just arrived. Seeing Ben step back, eyes wide and on her, she felt the need to explain. “I ordered the car during a weak moment.”
“Similar to the one you had when you called me in the middle of the night and said you wanted to go to the party?”
“What can I say? My mother brings out the worst in me. The car has nothing to do with appearances. You know I don’t care what people think. I wanted you close to me tonight.”
“No complaints here.”
The design of the car sat ten comfortably. The two it carried huddled together, barely taking the space of one. Ben draped his arm protectively around Olivia’s shoulders, pulling her toward him, reassuring her.
As they approached the house where she’d endured her childhood, she thought of her last visit when the capable Diamond had been her protector. Is Elizabeth even looking for another house? I never want to live there again, but no surprise, she’s taking advantage. As the roads became more familiar, Ben used his quick wit to ward off her rising anxiety.
“It’ll be fine, Olivia. I’ve got your back. And we both know, if anything happens to you, your grandmother will have me taken out.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it. Although she says she’s loved you since before you were born, Benny. But we don’t want my grandmother or Nanny thinking about cyanide again, do we?” She clung to the warmth and strength of his arms.
The car rolled to a stop at the end of the long-manicured drive. Ben opened Olivia’s door. Doubt coursed through her and launched a shiver of fear down her spine, prompting her to reach for his hand. Together they climbed the cool granite stairs. He pulled her close at the entrance and whispered near her ear. “Be a big, brave dog, Olivia.”
The unfamiliar butler lacked warmth while relaying the location of the party. Then, with the indifference of a factory worker on a Wednesday, he offered to escort them to the ballroom. Olivia shook her head and waved away his gesture, not sharing her knowledge of the layout of the house.
The bash looked in full swing. Professionally decorated, the spacious room vibrated as if alive with the celebratory atmosphere. It extended through the open French doors to the terrace and gardens.
And then she felt it—a sensation, a sudden shrill alarm only she could hear. She leaned back against Ben as her mother’s high-pitched voice filled the air. Olivia reached for his outstretched hand and forced herself not to squeeze her eyes shut. The heavy feeling in her stomach weighed her in place.
Her mother moved toward her, her spine stick-straight while guiding her invalid husband’s wheelchair.
“Hello Olivia, I’m glad you decided to join us.” Elizabeth then addressed her husband, who stared over their heads into space. “Do you remember my daughter, Vernon?”
Olivia had met him only once but could see Vernon Crawford wasn’t the man he once was. She harbored no hard feelings toward him. In fact, with his marriage to her mother, he fostered her pity.
“Happy birthday, Mr. Crawford,” she said when his eyes focused on her.
“Have we met? You look familiar,” Elizabeth asked Ben in a syrupy voice.
“My name’s Ben. Great house you have,” he said quickly before Olivia could answer for him.
“Yes, it is,” Elizabeth responded, shifting her gaze from Olivia back to Ben. “Maybe I could give you a tour later.”
Vernon mumbled, and Elizabeth again leaned in to listen. Ben swept Olivia along with the flow of couples swaying to the slow rhythmic music on the dance floor. As the crowd closed around them, his grip tightened.
“Great house, Ben? What’s that about?” Olivia’s voice reached hysteria.
He caressed the hollow of her back, drawing her closer. “I didn’t want your mother to know my full name. Not just yet.”
She nodded. “Be careful; I think you may need more protection from her than I do.”
Ben’s reassurance calmed her as they danced in each other’s arms. Neither was blind to the stares and sneers around them. Olivia expected the crowd her mother ran with to be primed with lies regarding her. Ben told her that it was her beauty that captured the room’s attention and prompted the looks and comments. His theory flushed her cheeks and quickened her heartbeat.
“I want to find Samuel and Shelby,” Olivia said.
They left the dance floor as their audience looked on. Taking Ben’s hand, Olivia led him from the house through the French doors.
“What makes you think they’re out here?” Ben asked as they walked along the garden path.
She shrugged. “It’s quicker than searching that house.”
Olivia and Ben found the twins on a bench, deep within the outer terrace, beneath a trellis sparkling with twinkle lights. They wore matching outfits, and much like their picture, neither child had a hair out of place. A young woman hovered closely behind them. She wore white and a sour expression.
“I’m Olivia Harding.”
“I know exactly who you are, Ms. Harding,” the woman said abruptly.
Taken back by her sharp tone, Olivia asked, “And you would be?”
“I’m the children’s governess, Edwina. Your mother warned me about you. You may take a look, but don’t speak to them. And it’s only fair you know I’m trained. If need be, I will protect these children.”
Olivia reminded herself to breathe, inhaling deeply. Heat flushed her body. She exhaled as Ben’s protective hand cupped her shoulder. Why would her mother use her step-siblings as bait to get her to a party and then sabotage a reunion? Yet, she had. It shouldn’t have surprised her. Yet, it had.
“Great speech, Edwina and, just so you know, I agree, with some of it,” Olivia said. “You do need to protect them—but not from me. Now, do your worst.”
Olivia stepped forward and placed a kiss on Samuel’s curly head and was rewarded with his toothy smile. She did the same with Shelby before taking Ben’s hand, returning to the path. Edwina hissed toward her back but held her place.
They walked through the gardens without the urgency of returning to the party. In truth, Olivia couldn’t risk a chance meeting with her mother, not before she calmed down. Traveling further from the lights and sounds of the ballroom, sh
e kept her hand tucked inside Ben’s.
“Man, did Edwina say governess or guard dog? I don’t know where your mother found her, but I’d swear I’ve seen her on an episode of Criminal Minds.”
Olivia didn’t respond, couldn’t. As she neared the last of the neatly planted flower beds, a sudden coldness stopped her mid-stride. Shivering and breathless, sweat rolled down her back while the taste and smell of the rich garden soil filled her mouth and nose.
Ben gathered her in her arms. “What’s going on, Olivia?”
“I don’t know,” she said, stumbling against him. “Let’s get out of here.”
Her condition improved with distance from the back gardens. She’d steadied her breathing just before they reached the house. Ben’s concern remained evident on his face.
“Have you remembered anything?” he asked.
“No, it happened so quickly, and then it was gone,” she said in a fragile whisper. “I’m not sure if I want to.”
“If it had anything to do with that mother of yours, I don’t blame you. There’s something I need to take care of, and then I promise, we’ll go.”
“What?”
“Find your mother.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
Instead of words, he kissed her forehead. They walked back into the ballroom through the opened French doors. All eyes were once again glued to their every move. From across the room, Elizabeth stared Ben down with a sultry grin as she ran her fingers through her bobbed blonde hair.
Taking Olivia by the hand, his long strides brought them together. Ben leaned close to Elizabeth’s ear.
“I’d love to speak to you in a more intimate setting,” he said.
Olivia gasped, eyes wide, with Ben’s choice of words, words that set her mother in motion. They entered a vacant room, and Ben shut the door behind them. Olivia could tell her mother’s suspicion wasn’t the only thing that Ben had aroused. Elizabeth looked more than just a little disturbed they weren’t alone.