Grounded

by A. E. Radley

  “Come in,” Olivia’s voice softly called out.

  He opened the door and gestured for Nicole to enter first. Olivia was in bed in dark red silk pyjamas, propped up on a number of fluffy pillows. She looked pale and exhausted, her normally luscious hair was dull and lifeless, and she was clearly utterly miserable.

  Nicole stepped farther into the room, and Simon closed the door behind them. He watched Nicole give Olivia a disapproving look, and Olivia quietly awaiting her judgement.

  After a few moments of silence, Nicole finally sighed. “You are an in idiot.”

  “Thank you for your sympathy,” Olivia replied.

  Simon winced, knowing that was not going to calm Nicole down at all.

  “What were you thinking?”

  Olivia remained silent, staring down at her hands twisting in the bedding rather than look at either of them.

  Nicole walked around the bedroom, pausing to look out the window. “I can stay here all day,” she said casually. “I mean, I did just fly from London because I thought you were in immediate peril. It’s not as if I have anywhere else to be.”

  “I’m fine,” Olivia reassured, turning a glare on Simon. “Simon shouldn’t have called you.”

  Simon opened his mouth to speak but closed it as Nicole beat him to the punch. “No, he did the right thing.” Nicole turned around and looked at Olivia. “Here you are, laid up in bed. You look like death, by the way.”

  “Thanks,” Olivia commented sarcastically.

  “Oh, don’t be confused, I’m not here to be nice to you.” Nicole sat in the chair beside the bed. “You’ve been an idiot—”

  “So you’ve told me.”

  “—and idiots need to be told when they are doing too much. And if that doesn’t work, then they need to be prevented from doing too much.” Nicole placed her coffee mug on the bedside table.

  “My business—”

  “Is not more important than your life,” Nicole said firmly.

  Olivia closed her mouth, clearly not wishing to argue with Nicole’s fearsome tone. Simon didn’t blame her one bit.

  “Now, I know things are bad. I know that you’re thinking about all the people who rely on you. I know there is more than just a business at stake here. There’s your father’s memory. I get it, really I do. But that is not a good enough reason to work yourself to death. People need you. Dammit, I need you.” Nicole reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out a tissue. “And I’m crying because you’re stupid.”

  “I’m sorry,” Olivia whispered.

  “Don’t be sorry. Just don’t do it again.”

  “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t even know…”

  “Come on, I can’t believe for a moment that there were no warning signs. Surely Simon nagged you to take a break?”

  “Yes, I did,” he confirmed.

  Olivia looked at Simon as if he was a traitor before returning her gaze to the bedding, ignoring Nicole’s exasperated look. Simon watched as Nicole sat back in the chair and looked at Olivia, whose eyes were starting to flutter from exhaustion.

  “Sleep,” Nicole gently ordered. “And when you wake up, we’ll be having an in-depth conversation about how to look after yourself. Which clearly you need.”

  Olivia chuckled softly before her eyes closed, and within minutes, even breathing indicated she was asleep.

  Nicole looked at Simon questioningly.

  “This is normal,” he assured her in a whisper.

  “She gave me quite the scare,” Nicole whispered back. “After I got your call, I threw some clothes in a bag and headed straight for the airport. I sat in the terminal and panicked about whether or not I’d ever see her again.”

  Simon glanced at Olivia, who was clearly headed into a deep sleep. “I know the feeling,” he confessed. “I thought I’d never get that promotion.”

  Nicole chuckled lightly. “I know you don’t mean that. You two are like some strange double act. Never one without the other.”

  She leaned back, turning her head from side to side, and Simon winced at the cracks that sounded.

  “We have to keep an eye on her,” Nicole told him.

  “Agreed.”

  She picked up her mug and pointed to some bound papers on the bedside table. “What’s this?”

  Simon shrugged. “It better not be work.”

  Nicole picked it up and started to flip through the papers, shaking her head. “No, not work.”

  “Good. Speaking of work, I need to go and make a couple of calls.”

  Nicole lowered her mug to the bedside table again. “I’ll finish my coffee in here,” she said distractedly as she began to read. “I’ll be out in a bit.”

  Simon stepped out of the bedroom and quietly closed the door behind him. He was relieved that Nicole had come to help keep Olivia in check. Seeing her collapse and so unwell in the hospital had been a sharp shock to the system.

  After the plane crash, Olivia had seemed fine. Disorientated on pain medication, but otherwise well. This was different. It had amplified quickly and turned into something that Simon didn’t quite know how to deal with. He’d known Nicole would be his best bet to make her see sense.

  He sat down in the living room and caught up on calls and e-mails, quickly losing track of time as he tried to keep what little that was left of Applewood in one piece. It must have been an hour later when Nicole walked back into the living room.

  “She’s still sleeping. Or doing a great job faking it because we told her off.” She sniffed and looked around the room, stretching tiredly. “I think I’ll go check into my room and have a rest and come back later if that’s okay with you?”

  Simon nodded. “Sure. It’s been a long journey for you.”

  “It’s been a long few weeks for you. When are you heading back?”

  He shrugged. “No idea.”

  “You can’t stay here forever.” She picked her handbag off the sofa.

  “I know, but I can’t leave now either.” He stood and walked over to fetch her coat. “It’s weird to see her like this.”

  “I know,” she said softly. “But, she’ll bounce back. She doesn’t tolerate being ill; you know that.”

  Simon laughed, handed her the coat, and picked up her suitcase to carry it for her. “That’s true. And I know she’ll not be like this for long. I just hope she doesn’t try to bounce back too soon.”

  Nicole opened the suite door and they both exited into the corridor. “Well, that’s what you and I are here for. If she won’t look after herself, then we’ll do it for her.”

  “That’s one of the reasons why I called you. She’s not listening to me at all.” Simon shook his head in frustration as they approached the elevator and Nicole pressed the call button.

  “She’ll listen to me,” Nicole said firmly. “Anyway, more interestingly, you mentioned Emily before. Is she back in the picture? Please tell me she’s back in the picture.”

  Simon chuckled. “That’s a long story. You ready?” he asked as they both stepped into the elevator.

  * * *

  Emily sat in the chair beside Olivia’s bed. Olivia had been asleep since she arrived, and she’d spent the time making notes in her script. She’d almost forgotten that Olivia had taken it. That evening had been completely overshadowed by Seb and Olivia’s standoff.

  Emily had been surprised to see the script beside Olivia’s bed and wondered if she’d read it. She decided to refresh her memory on the contents of the script and soon found herself scribbling notes. An extra word here, a pause there. She remembered how much she enjoyed writing scripts and plays. Sometimes the addition of just one small word could completely rejuvenate a whole sentence. It was exhilarating.

  It was also a great way to kill time while Olivia rested. She could have edited anywhere else, but she wanted to be closer to Olivia. After the adrenaline of Olivia’s collapse had worn off, the guilt had quickly set in.

  In hindsight, she could see that Olivia had looked sick and exhausted, and y
et she had carried on arguing with her. She wished she could travel back and approach the conversation in a different way, but at the time she had been so angry. Of course she was ecstatic, elated that her debts had been paid off. But the fact that Olivia had done it, without talking to her first, had been too much for Emily to take in. She’d only recently become comfortable with the idea of accepting more help from others, and she’d felt as if Olivia had played her.

  After sitting in the hospital waiting room, waiting for the doctor, she had calmed down and started to think about Olivia and her personality. In a strange way, it made sense. It was such an Olivia thing to do. And she couldn’t imagine Olivia blackmailing or bribing her; it just wasn’t a part of who she was. Emily’s fears had started to float away as she’d analysed what she knew of Olivia until all that was left was remorse.

  When Olivia had woken up, Simon had gone in and spoken to her while Emily remained in the waiting room, worried that her presence might further upset Olivia.

  Once Simon told her that Olivia was being released back to the hotel, Emily had decided it would be wrong to hide any longer.

  She suddenly felt a shift in the atmosphere of the room and looked up to see Olivia looking back at her.

  “Hello,” Emily said with a smile. She lowered the manuscript and her pen to the bedside table. “How are you feeling?”

  Olivia’s eyes flicked towards the closed bedroom door before returning to Emily.

  “Are you going to shout at me? Because I really don’t feel up to it,” Olivia admitted in a tiny voice.

  Emily felt her heart clench and edged forward on her chair. “I’m not going to shout at you. I’m sorry I overreacted.”

  “I understand why you did.”

  “Do you?” Emily asked uncertainly.

  “I think so,” Olivia admitted.

  “I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me, and for Henry,” Emily said with sincerity. “I was so shocked by it, I didn’t know how to react. I felt as though you had lied to me, played me. But that doesn’t excuse my actions. As I say, I’m sorry.”

  “Lied to you?” Olivia looked so lost that Emily’s heart ached.

  “You took the paperwork with the intention of paying off my debts…”

  Olivia struggled to sit. “I didn’t—”

  Emily stood up and put her hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “Don’t sit up.”

  “I didn’t plan to clear the debts. I only considered it when I realised how…damaging they were to your custody case.” Olivia lay back down but looked desperately at her.

  “Oh.” Emily hadn’t considered that possibility. Now she felt even more remorseful for her assumption that Olivia had been lying to her. That Olivia had used her request for help as a way to do what she wanted, even though she knew Emily wouldn’t like it.

  She shook her head to try to clear the guilt that had settled heavily on her. “Okay, but, still, you should have spoken to me about it.”

  “I don’t want the money back.”

  “Well, you’re damn well getting it back,” Emily told her with a chuckle. “I’ll pay you back somehow. But, without interest. I hear that’s how people get into debt.”

  Olivia smiled. “Now you’re learning.”

  Emily noticed the door opening and a woman walked in. She stood up from the edge of Olivia’s bed.

  “I’m sorry, am I interrupting?”

  “Not at all,” Emily replied.

  “Emily, this is my good friend, Nicole. Nic, this is Emily, who I told you about.” Olivia shuffled up a little so she was sat up, ignoring Emily’s disapproving look.

  “I’m so sorry to barge in, but I just went out and got some takeaway. I picked up some of that lasagne that you love,” Nicole explained. She held up a takeaway bag and Olivia’s eyes flashed with interest.

  “I need to head home soon anyway,” Emily said. “I’ll come back to see you tomorrow.”

  “You don’t need to leave,” Nicole insisted.

  Emily was already approaching the door. “I have to get back; I hadn’t realised the time. It was nice to meet you.” She smiled warmly at Nicole before saying another goodbye to Olivia and excusing herself from the room.

  On her way out, she peeked into the kitchen, where Simon was plating up food.

  “Hey, do you want to stay for dinner? There’s plenty to go around,” he said as she walked in.

  “No, I need to get going. I was thinking of coming by tomorrow, though.”

  Simon turned and gave her a sad face. “Stay. We haven’t had much chance to catch up.”

  Emily chuckled. “Don’t pout. I’ll be back tomorrow I promise.”

  “Are you still angry at her?” Simon asked.

  Emily shook her head. “No. I was. Obviously.” She leant against the doorframe and closed her eyes for a moment. “I’m starting to get her. She doesn’t always make sense, but I’m looking at her intentions rather than her actions.”

  Simon beamed. “Good. I can subscribe you to the Olivia Lewis Fan Club. There’s a newsletter, stickers, and everything.”

  Emily laughed. “You’re such a brat.” She winked as she turned and gathered her things from the living room. “I’ll be by around tomorrow at eleven if that’s okay?”

  “Yup,” Simon agreed. “See you then.”

  CHAPTER 29

  “How is she?” Lucy asked the moment Emily stepped in the door.

  Emily looked around for Henry. She hadn’t told her son about Olivia being unwell.

  “He’s playing in his room,” Lucy reassured her.

  “She’s okay. Exhausted. Sleeping a lot, which is good.” Emily hung up her coat and bag.

  “Did you manage to talk to her?” Lucy pressed.

  Emily nodded. “We’re good. I apologised for overreacting.”

  Lucy bit her lip and Emily chuckled softly. “Out with it, Luce.”

  “You’re accepting the money, right? You didn’t do anything crazy like reverse the payments?”

  “I didn’t do anything crazy,” Emily promised. “I’ll need to talk to her properly about how the hell I’m going to pay her back. But that’s for another day.”

  “I made a chicken pie for you to take to her.” Lucy tilted her head towards the kitchen. “I bake when I’m nervous.”

  “Why are you nervous?”

  Lucy looked towards the stairs to check that Henry was out of sight before grabbing Emily and dragging her to the kitchen. She closed the door and started to pace the room, bursting with nervous energy.

  “I say this with love,” Lucy started.

  “Nothing good ever comes from saying that,” Emily pointed out.

  Lucy leaned against the counter and let out a deep sigh. “Seeing you, Henry, and Olivia together was so wonderful. You just worked like a little family unit. And I know that you are still trying to figure things out, but I can see a perfect image of the future.”

  Emily pulled out a dining chair and sat down. She had a feeling she knew where this was headed.

  “But then she paid off the debts, and I know you, Em. I know that you are proud and determined, and I worried that you would push her away again.”

  “I nearly did,” Emily admitted softly.

  “I was nervous.” Lucy hesitated. “I am nervous that you’re going to end things with her. Because I honestly think that she is the best thing that’s ever happened to you and Henry.”

  Emily chuckled at the dramatic words.

  “No, hear me out,” Lucy forged on. “I’m not just talking about her obvious wealth. She cares for both of you, deeply. I see it every time she looks at you. I’ve heard about London, and I’ve seen her interact with you both with my own eyes. Someone who is so willing to open their heart is a rare thing.”

  “Lucy, I know that she cares—”

  “And you clearly care about her.”

  “It’s an awkward situation,” Emily said vaguely. “I’ve pushed her away and now…I don’t know if she wants to try again. I think
she’s given up on me and moved on.”

  “I don’t think so, not from what I’ve seen,” Lucy disagreed. “Just don’t overthink it.”

  Emily rested her head on the kitchen table. “Too late.” She let out a deep breath. “Every time I think I have her figured out, I realise that I haven’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Emily sat up. “The payments. I thought she took the paperwork with the intention of paying the debts off. But she says that she didn’t; she only considered it later when the custody case came up.”

  “So…it wasn’t premeditated?”

  “No. She didn’t lie to me,” Emily confirmed. “She just didn’t tell me what she was planning to do. And she didn’t tell me because she knew I wouldn’t agree to it. She expected me to no longer want to speak to her after she did it.”

  “She knew the risks and she did it anyway, because she felt it was the right thing to do,” Lucy understood. “If I were in her situation, I may well have done the same.”

  Emily looked at her in disbelief. “You’d use someone’s private paperwork to pay off their debts without telling them? Waiting for them to find out when their statements arrived?”

  Lucy laughed and nodded. “Yes, if it would keep you and Henry together, I think I would.”

  Emily sighed. “Now you’re making me feel as if I’m a bad person because I don’t want people to pay off my debts.”

  “Well, it should make you feel like a good person. Because we would all be willing to do it for you.”

  CHAPTER 30

  The next day Emily turned up at the suite with a large dish of chicken pie under her arm, feeling slightly ridiculous. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

  A moment later Simon pulled it open and smiled in greeting. “You come bearing gifts!” he exclaimed when he saw the foil-covered dish.

  “A chicken pie from my housemate. Apparently, she bakes when she’s nervous.” Emily handed him the dish.

  Simon lifted a corner of the foil and inhaled. “Wow, can she be nervous more often? This smells amazing.”

  Emily smiled. “I’ll let her know you said so.”

  “Tea?” Simon offered as he walked towards the kitchen. “Coffee, juice, water?”