“Absolutely.” I shift so I can see her eyes. “You okay?”
Her nod is quick—too quick.
“What’s wrong?” I take her chin in my hand. “You’re freaking out about what we just did? I am too a little bit—every step forward for us is a big deal, and I’m not making light of any of it.”
“I know. And God, being able to finally touch you like that—I’m so happy, J.” Her voice is soft, but a shadow crosses her face as she peeks up at me. “Do you think marriage is a prison sentence?”
“My marriage felt like prison for me,” I say honestly.
“It is for Daphne, too.”
“Why are you asking?” I keep my gaze firmly focused on hers, wanting to make sure I don’t miss any clues she’s giving off.
She bites her lip. “I guess Daphne scared me. She makes it sound like it all sucks. Marriage, kids, you know. Like it’s just jail.”
I take her bottom lip in my teeth and lightly bite it myself. “I think you’re scared of something that has nothing to do with your sister.”
She sighs into my mouth as I continue to nibble her lips. “You’re probably right. It’s just…this is all new to me. Being with you as an adult.”
“So let’s just keep enjoying ourselves and getting to know each other again.”
“I want that. More than anything,” she says.
I do too.
Chapter Ten
Olivia
The next morning, Mom surprises me at work.
“Everything all right?” I ask her in concern.
She hastens over to my desk. “Olivia, I’m sorry to surprise you like this,” she begins as she takes a seat across from me. “Absolutely nothing is wrong.”
Her cheeks flush the way they do when she feels guilty, and I know I’m not going to like whatever reason brought her here. “You know Cybil’s daughter, Patsy?”
“Yes,” I say suspiciously. “Of course I do.”
“Well,” Mom continues enthusiastically. “Patsy’s dear friend, Maureen, has a son, and he just moved back to town…”
“No, no, no—a million times no!” I say as Cassandra looks over from the teller window.
“He’s a nice boy, Olivia,” Mom says in a low voice. “Patsy’s known him since he was in diapers. He grew up in Bearport. You know the town over from here?”
“Yeah,” I say with clenched teeth. “I’m familiar.”
“The thing is, Dad feels just terrible about what he said last night. About what he almost said, I should say. And he and I got to talking afterward about you and your single status. At your age, a woman likes to be at least on her way to a secure relationship.”
“Mom, I swear to God. This is not 1950 anymore, or haven’t you noticed?”
“Olivia, I know it’s not 1950. But I want you to have a partner in life. Not a savior,” she adds hastily when she sees my face. “A partner. Someone to share battle scars with, someone to share fairy tales with. I know you’re not Sleeping Beauty who needs rescuing. That was always more Daphne, never you. Look at you now.” She pauses to sweep her arm around the bank dramatically. “You could be running this place in ten years. You’ve done very well, sweetheart, and Dad and I are so proud of you. We really are. But I want you to love, too. Not just money but another person.”
I drop my head into my hands. “Mom, I tried marriage. It didn’t work.”
“You mean Nate didn’t work. You obviously married the wrong man. But I haven’t given up on you finding the right one.”
I raise my head and look at her face filled with hope.
I don’t have a clue what to say to her. Not being able to tell my mother about my first and only love has been more than painful; it’s created a distance between us that I know she doesn’t understand. Because Mom and I are close, we really are. But because I can’t share what’s in my heart with her…well, it’s made things confusing. “I—”
“Would you at least meet Will Saturday at the fair?” she asks. “He’s expecting you.”
As much as I want to, now isn’t the time to fill her in on Jenson. So I stall.
“I—can’t. I’m not looking to meet anyone new yet. I can’t explain it to you more clearly than that right now. Just trust me.”
Mom nods and changes the subject to the weather, something I take as a good sign that we’re on the same page and moving on. “It’s supposed to be a beautiful sunny day on Saturday. Even Auntie Sue’s going to make it.”
“That’s great. Hopefully, she’ll enjoy herself.”
“Sheldon and Cara will both be there, of course. But Daphne’s busy—they’re visiting Todd’s family. Do you know if Jenson’s planning on coming? Dad would really appreciate having him there.”
I swallow and don’t look at her as I answer. “I know the Hawks have practice that morning. But he mentioned something about taking Kyle and Connor afterward.”
“Good,” Mom says. “It’s too bad he broke it off with that woman out in Pittsburgh, but I guess she wasn’t the one for him after all.”
Pain hits my chest, and I just barely get out, “Guess not.”
Before I have to chat more about Jenson, Vivian approaches my desk, and Mom leaves with a whispered, “I’ll meet you at six. I’ve got great plans for tonight’s Adult Ed class.”
Good Lord.
Vivian waits until my mother’s walked out the door before she turns to me with a smile. “I’m sending you to Manhattan, Olivia.”
“What?”
“This is a big meeting with our new account, and I can’t make it. So you’ll do it in my place. Sound good?”
“Do what in your place?” I say to her. “You’re the president.”
“And you’re the deal closer,” she counters me. “Perls is a huge client. You’re awesome with new customers. This should be no different. And if it works out, there’s a bonus attached, along with some great experience.”
“Oh, gosh.” I can feel the panic in my voice as I stare at her. “I don’t know, Viv. The last time I was in Manhattan, things kind of went off a cliff.”
Vivian nods sympathetically. “But this is just for one day. And it could be a great opportunity to maybe heal those memories, no?”
“Why Manhattan? Perls Retail is nearby here. Isn’t that the only reason they’re thinking of us?”
“The president of the regional offices is in New York,” Vivian explains. “And he can’t be bothered to come to little Liberty Falls. So if we want the contract, we need to go to him. I’ll give you the notes I have, and you can do the rest of the research. If you’re up for it, that is.”
I take a deep breath. I’m not sure I’m up for anything that’s happening in my life right now, but it doesn’t really feel possible to turn back. And I doubt Vivian will ever have the same respect for me as her top employee if I turn this opportunity down.
“Sure,” I say to her. “I’ll do it.”
Vivian gives me the thumbs-up. “The meeting’s the Friday after the fair. If you want, stay for the weekend. Bring a hot date. The company will only pay for your plane ticket, but if you want to bring somebody, you can drive instead of fly. Doesn’t matter to me as long as you’re at that meeting at eleven a.m. sharp.”
New York. Take two but without a cheating husband throwing off my game. Sounds like a plan.
Vivian lays a stack of folders on my desk after lunch with a, “this is just a fraction of what you’ll need to know for your meeting in Manhattan.”
I spend the afternoon poring over the documents, and by the time Mom picks me up outside the bank at six, I officially feel like I’m under water. Which turns out to be a perfect mood for tonight because Mom’s surprise for tonight’s Adult Education class is—water aerobics.
“I thought physical exercise might be better than another art class,” Mom explains as I start to protest. “We’ll pop by your house so you can grab your bathing suit.”
“Mom, I don’t even have a one-piece,” I say. “I only have a bikini, an
d it’s really skimpy. I’m not convinced it will stay on through a rigorous exercise class.” I sigh as she ignores me and heads the truck in the direction of my house. “The other day, you said you signed us up for oil painting.”
“Well, I did. But they called last night and said the class wasn’t full, so it was going to be cancelled. The woman on the phone was very nice, and she said water aerobics still had room. I hear it’s absolutely fabulous exercise,” Mom says as we turn onto my street. “And so gentle on your joints. I’m hoping to get Bea into a regular class if tonight goes well for her. She’s a little nervous about her suit as well,” she explains as we pull into my driveway.
She turns off the truck and follows me up the front walk, despite me telling her I’ll be right back. “But not for the same reasons you are. She’s worried her suit looks too old-fashioned, but she needs the full coverage if you know what I mean.”
I snap my head in her direction and give her a look, hoping to silence her.
But my mother has never been quick to quiet.
“She’s always been hairy in the genital area,” Mom explains as I block my ears. “What, Olivia—she has! It’s been a source of great embarrassment for her. She hates to swim because of it.”
“Mom, why doesn’t she just shave then?” I head into my walk-in closet, turn on the light, and shut the door so I can change into my suit. “Or use a hair removal product, or go get a bikini wax or something?”
“She’s thinking about it,” Mom says. “Especially the home hair removal product. She won’t do the wax because she’s afraid of the pain. I told her I get my chin waxed, and it’s not that bad, but I don’t know how I’d feel about a bikini wax myself. Have you ever tried it?”
I’ve got my suit on now and I throw a tank top and jean shorts over it before stepping out of the closet.
“Yes, I’ve tried it,” I say. “I don’t particularly like it, though. I think Bea should stick with trying a product at home.”
“I’m Angel.” The instructor with bleached blond hair and a sunburned face appears in front of us as we all stand by the pool. Her bikini’s more revealing than mine is, so I guess I needn’t have worried. “Welcome to water aerobics. You’re going to love it.”
This time, other than Angel, I am the only person here under the age of fifty. Mom shushes me when I whisper that to her and tells me to count my blessings I’m still young and fit.
“Bless that body of yours, Olivia,” Mom says as we step down into the pool together. “Don’t be sorry you’re here with us. Be happy your butt is so firm.”
I playfully swat at Mom’s arm with my hand. “Stop looking at my ass.” I move further away from her and walk into the water up to my shoulders.
As soon as Angel begins the warm-ups, my cell phone starts to play U2.
Jenson.
I start moving past people and toward the stairs. Mom glares at me. “Is that your phone?” she says loudly.
“Be right back,” I say as I apologize for nearly stepping on someone’s foot. I reach the steps and dash up the stairs and across the tiled floor, being careful not to slip on the standing water.
The ringing has ceased by the time I get to my towel. As I pick up the phone to text him, he texts me.
Where r u?
I dry my hands on my towel and smile. In Hell.
Where’s Hell?
Adult Ed. swimming pool with my mom & Bea. I’ll be done in an hour.
I press send, turn off my phone, and hurry back to the pool.
Angel is in great shape. And it turns out water aerobics is quite the workout. By the time the hour is up, I’m more tired than after my walks with Mom. The thing about being submerged in water is that you don’t know if you’re sore or not until after you climb out. And I can tell I’m going to be sore.
Mom’s exhausted, but Bea says she feels great and calls us both wimps.
“Love it,” Bea gushes to me afterward in the locker room. “Could do it every day.”
I smile at her. “Good for you, Bea. You’ve found your niche.”
“Isn’t that great?” Mom says as she pulls her shirt on over her suit at a lightning-quick pace. “You don’t mind if we skip the showering, do you girls?”
I shrug. “I can shower at home, sure.” I pull my tank top over my bikini and reach for my shorts.
“Good,” Mom says as she takes Bea’s arm and urges her onward. “It’s just so awkward in there,” Mom whispers as we walk out of the locker room. “Some women parade around naked, talking to you all the while as if you’re out to coffee together.”
“But we’re wet, Nora,” Bea complains. “Wearing our suits underneath our dry clothes isn’t very comfortable.”
“I’m sorry, Bea,” Mom says. “But your apartment’s right next door. I’ll walk you there myself.”
We step out into the parking lot, and I swallow back a gasp.
Jenson’s walking toward us.
His eyes catch mine, and I can read the promise in them from here. He glances at Mom and Bea and waves casually. He looks tanned, cool, and relaxed in shorts and a t-shirt.
“Whatever is Jenson doing here?” Mom says.
“He’s here to see me, I think,” I say, desperately trying to pull my soaking wet hair back into a ponytail.
“Oh, don’t we all look a fright?” Mom says as she puts a hand to her own hair. “I guess we should have showered, after all.”
Bea blanches. “I don’t want to talk to any men right now. Let’s send him away.”
Too late for that.
Jenson grins at me as he reaches us. “Good time in the pool?” he says.
“Oh, Jenson, you turn right around now and take Olivia home,” Mom says, turning him with her two hands and giving him a little shove. “Don’t even look at us. Bea and I are a mess.”
I hug Mom and Bea good-bye and start walking down the steps.
“Hi, Bea!” Jenson calls back over his shoulder as he follows me across the hot pavement.
“Nice to see you, dear,” Bea says. “Olivia, remember to change before going out on the town. Your suit’s making your ass look wet!”
“Jesus,” I say under my breath as I keep walking.
Jenson laughs and leads me to his truck. “I’ll get the door,” he offers, opening the passenger side for me so I can climb in.
“I’m going to get your seat wet,” I say to him.
“Doesn’t worry me,” he winks as he shuts the door behind me. “I find that sentence to be quite a turn-on, actually.”
Once he’s inside the driver’s side, he turns to face me, his eyes bright. But I wave my hand at him.
“Step on it,” I say. “If you don’t, my mom’s face may be peering into your window in a minute.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He pulls out of the parking spot and heads for the exit.
I smile. “Although her embarrassment would probably be enough to stop her. She and Bea didn’t want to be seen after class.”
“I was only looking at you, anyway,” Jenson says as his gaze flicks over to me. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you. Never could.” He puts his hand on my bare thigh. “Still can’t.”
I feel water aerobics fading away. Bea and Mom drift out of my mind, and all I really want right now is this moment with Jenson.
“I’m envious you got to swim,” he says as the light turns to green and he takes his foot off the brake. “It’s hot as hell out tonight.”
“You want to skinny dip? At the park?”
“How late is the gate open?” He’s already yanking the wheel hard in the direction of the town lake.
Jenson parks in the dirt lot, and we walk together through the trees to the most remote area of the park. When we reach the water, Jenson pulls off his shirt and lets it fall to the ground. I’ve just taken off my t-shirt and shorts when I see him drop his shorts and boxers and dive into the water.
“Hey!” he says when I swim up next to him. “You said skinny dip!”
“I lied.�
� I smile at him. “I wanted to see you skinny dip, but this bikini has to be good for something.”
Jenson puts his arms around me, and I wrap my legs around his waist. “Will you come with me to Pittsburgh next weekend when I can close up everything?” he says, catching me completely off guard.
“Uh, no way.” I wriggle out of his arms and swim away from him.
“Why not?” he says as he swims after me. “We’d get to leave Liberty Falls for a bit.”
“And go to the place where you and Meghan lived together and had your twins.” I stop to stand on the sandy bottom and look at him, hoping he’ll see the pain in my eyes and drop it. “No thanks. I’ll pass on that road trip down memory lane.”
“Meghan and I never lived in this place together,” Jenson says as he treads water. “She kept the house, remember? I’ve been in a townhouse ever since.”
“I don’t want to think about you two fucking on the streets of Pittsburgh.” I avert my gaze.
“So don’t think about it.” Jenson stands up, too, and tips my chin up with his thumb, forcing me to make eye contact. “No fucking took place in public, believe me. What movie are you watching in your head?”
“The one that hurts,” I say in a pinched tone. “The one that’s always hurt.”
Jenson puts his hands on my ass and pulls me in close to him. “That movie’s over,” he says. “The ending already happened. Didn’t you see it? It wasn’t happy. Ended in divorce.”
“Oh, really?” I lean in closer to him. “How come?”
“Tragic,” he says as he kisses my neck. “Turns out the guy’s head over heels for somebody else. Some girl he’s known his whole life. Seems like she stole his heart a long time ago. But circumstances kept them apart.”
“What about his ex-wife?” I ask in a hoarse tone as Jenson reaches for the string on my bikini bottoms and unties it.
“She’s otherwise involved,” Jenson says as my bottoms slip off and hit the sandy bottom of the lake. “She’s got a new boyfriend, and she’s much happier. And the guy in this movie? He wants to show his kids how to follow your heart. Because if you cut that off, you really have nothing.”
Jenson (Wild Men Book 4) Page 10