Haunting Olivia (32 page)

“Chocolate,” she said. “Chocolate.”

“Olivia,” a voice called. Unfamilar. “Olivia? Are you dreaming about chocolate?”

“Chocolate,” she said, her eyes fluttering open. “I HAUNTING OLIV IA

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was dreaming.” She had dreamed of the boy and girl again, the different ones. She suddenly wanted chocolate. She tried to sit up, but she couldn’t. She opened her eyes.

“Olivia, you’re in the hospital. Your leg is broken, but you’re fine. Can you hear me? Did you hear what I said?”

“My leg is broken, but I’m fine,” she repeated.

“Olivia, my name is Dr. Fielding. You’re also pregnant.”

Olivia’s eyes opened wide. She stared at the doctor. A young woman with a pen behind her ear.

A white coat. She looked nothing like the staffers at Pixford. Olivia relaxed. Pregnant? She was pregnant? She moved her hand down to her belly, a peace she hadn’t felt in years settling over her, along with a new kind of happiness. “I’m pregnant,” she repeated, the words like magic. “Pregnant.”

“Good thing?” the doctor asked.

“Very good,” Olivia said, smiling. “By any chance is it twins?”

The doctor smiled. “It’s a bit too early to tell.”

Olivia smiled. She’d dream about the boy and girl until she gave birth. Maybe in the next dream they’d continue running and laughing. They could stop waiting. She knew that she was pregnant now.

“Doctor,” Olivia said, “what happened to Johanna Cole and Marnie Sweetser. Are they all right? And Marnie’s daughter, Brianna?”

Dr. Fielding’s expression changed. “Marnie Sweetser and her daughter are fine. Johanna didn’t make it. She died on impact.”

Olivia took a deep breath and nodded.

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“There are two people waiting very anxiously to see you,” the doctor said. “Zach and Kayla Archer.

Shall I send them in?”

“Yes,” Olivia said, desperate to see both of them.

“Yes, yes, yes.”

The doctor smiled and opened the door, and the two great loves of her life came in. She had big news to tell them both. But perhaps she would wait, give Zach a chance to make some decisions on his own before she sprung news of the baby on him.

She didn’t want the pregnancy to dictate his choices. She wanted him to choose her or not.

And so she let them hug her and kiss her, and she responded to all their questions about how she felt, which was more than fine, now.

Like the dream children, she would wait.

The next day, Olivia was released from the hospital on crutches. Zach wheeled her to the truck and helped her inside, Kayla silent at her side.

“Honey? You okay?” Olivia asked her.

Kayla’s face crumpled and she burst into tears, then turned and ran across the parking lot to a bench at a bus stop.

“What the—” Zach said, staring after Kayla.

Olivia inched back out. “Help me back into the wheelchair. I think I might know what’s wrong.”

“Do you think she’s overwhelmed by everything that’s happened?” he asked as he helped her into the wheelchair.

Olivia nodded. She’d been through hell for one thirteen-year-old. She’d learned of Johanna’s death HAUNTING OLIV IA

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from Brianna, who’d come to see Kayla at the hospital. The girl had apologized for not believing Kayla, for being so mean, and she’d broken down in tears about her aunt trying to kill Olivia. Kayla and Brianna had hugged and talked for hours, and the therapist who would be meeting with Kayla twice weekly had told Olivia and Zach that the new friendship between Kayla and Brianna would help both girls tremendously.

After a long session with detectives, Marnie had confessed to beginning her relationship with Zach after learning from her cousin that Zach’s daughter was the daughter of William Sedgwick’s estranged daughter, and that he was on his deathbed. Marnie told police that she really didn’t know if Johanna loved William or not; her cousin had never been

“quite right” and had spent time in mental hospitals from the time she was in high school. Apparently, Marnie knew Johanna had broken in that first night and warned her cousin to never do it again, especially because another cousin of theirs was on the force and it would be an embarrassment to him if Johanna was caught. Johanna admitted to Marnie that she’d been responsible for trashing the house and leaving the noose on Olivia’s chest.

All the other incidents and threats had been the work of Cecily, who was currently under observation in a psychiatric ward in a mental hospital.

Marnie had been responsible for one thing: the photograph of the castrated man left on the guest bed after Olivia and Zach had made love for the first time. Marnie confessed that she’d suspected Zach had cheated on her with Olivia that night. The next 308

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morning, when she’d come over, she’d left the photograph and scribbled the note on the guest bed when Zach had been in the shower. It had been a test, to see if he’d react as she thought he would.

By admitting to sleeping with Olivia. And he had.

Olivia closed her eyes for a moment, willing the images of all that had transpired away. Marnie had come to see her in the hospital yesterday and had apologized for how horribly out of hand everything had gotten. Olivia thanked her for saving her life, and a truce was formed. Marnie also mentioned that she and Brianna would be moving far away for a fresh start. Olivia thought that was a good idea.

“You okay, Liv?” Zach asked, his hands on her wheelchair. “You seem a million miles away.”

“Just thinking about ever ything that has happened,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I’m okay.

I’ll go try to make things as okay as I can for Kayla.”

Zach nodded and wheeled her over to where Kayla sat, her knees up against her chest, her face buried in her hands. Zach walked back to the truck, and Olivia wheeled herself closer to Kayla.

“Kay,” she said. “I think I know why you’re so upset.”

The girl sniffled. “It’s not because of the pageant.

I don’t care about that anymore.”

“Because you don’t need a sash around you to tell you you have inner beauty?”

“Because nothing matters,” Kayla said, breaking into sobs again. “You could have
died,
Mom.”

Olivia’s heart moved in her chest, and her own eyes filled with tears. That was exactly what she thought was troubling Kayla. The girl had just HAUNTING OLIV IA

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gotten her mother back and she’d almost lost Olivia again.

“Come here, sweetheart,” Olivia said, stretching out her arms.

Kayla flew off the bench and snuggled against her, wrapping her arms around Olivia. “I love you so much, Mom,” she said in broken sobs against Olivia’s coat.

Olivia lifted up Kayla’s chin. “I love you too, Kayla. I always have and I always will.”

“No matter what?”

“No matter what,” she assured Kayla.

“So why did Daddy say he didn’t know if you were coming with us to Marbury?” Kayla asked, the tears returning. “If you love me and want to be my mother, why aren’t you coming?”

Olivia’s heart sank. Kayla must have asked if Olivia was moving with them, and Zach must have answered honestly with an “I don’t know.” Because he hadn’t yet decided if he wanted her to live with him, if he wanted her in
his
life.

“Honey, I want to assure you of something. Even if I don’t live in your house, I’ll live within walking distance. I promise you that.”

Kayla brightened. “Okay, that sounds good. But I’d rather you lived with us. Do you want to know why?”

Olivia nodded.

Kayla opened the backpack that was slung over her shoulder and took out her pink Inner-Beauty Pageant folder. She withdrew two pages and handed them to Olivia.

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Olivia smiled. It was Kayla’s oral presentation, titled “The Most Influential Person in My Life.”

A long time ago, my mother, Olivia Sedgwick, won
this pageant. I went to the town hall and asked Mrs.

Putnam if I could see copies of my mother’s winning
essay and oral presentation. Not so I could copy it or
anything, but so I could just learn more about her.

You see, my mother and I were separated from the time
I was born until just recently. I don’t want to get into
all the details, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned
lately, it’s that some things are private. Anyway, I’m
just getting to know my mom, and I thought that
reading her essays would help me get to know her even
better or maybe even faster. It turned out that my
mom’s oral presentation about the most influential
person in her life was about two people: her half sisters. My aunts Amanda and Ivy, whom I met for the
first time just this past week. My mom wrote that there
was no way she could choose between them, that even
though they were her half sisters, they made a whole
in terms of influencing her the most. The judges said
they agreed with exactly that phrase.

So I’m using that phrase too. The most influential
person in my life is my father and my mother. Because
they are two halves of a whole for me, and now our
family is complete.

“Oh, Kayla,” Olivia said as she finished reading.

“This is absolutely beautiful. I’m so touched. And so honored. And I know your dad will be too. Will you share it with him?”

She nodded, then flew into Olivia’s arms for a hug. “Can I wheel you back to Daddy?”

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Olivia smiled, and Kayla gently pushed her chair back to the truck. Once they were on the road to Zach’s house, Olivia rested her hands on her stomach.
Everything’s going to be okay,
she said silently to the baby growing inside her.
Zach and I are two halves
of a whole. Neither of us is quite complete without the
other. I just hope your daddy feels the same way.

Olivia glanced out the window at the light snow falling, at the moving scenery. She slept most of the way back to Zach’s house. She thought he’d said something about having called her mother, that Candace was flying up this afternoon. The next thing she knew, she was lying on the guest bed, the blankets pulled up to her waist. Her medicine and a glass of water were on the table next to her. And a “Get Well” card from Kayla and a vase of tulips were next to the lamp.

“Hi, how are you feeling?”

Olivia tried to sit up, but she felt so dizzy. That was her mother’s voice, she was sure of it. She blinked a few times, and yes, there her mother was, her face full of concern.

“Kayla is so beautiful,” her mother said. “She has your hair.”

Olivia nodded. “Hi, mom. I’m glad you’re here.”

“And Zach seems absolutely wonderful,” her mother continued. “So handsome. And clearly wealthy!”

It was almost a relief to know that some things never changed—like her mother. Olivia, Zach, and Kayla would never be the same.

“And here he is now,” her mother said, beaming at Zach, who did indeed look gorgeous, as always.

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“So, your mom and I have been talking,” Zach said. “I thought that since the new house in Marbury is so big, your mom could have her own wing.

A big bedroom and bathroom. Her own Jacuzzi too.”

Candace beamed.

“Of course, I mentioned to her that since I was setting up shop in Marbury, I really would need a new part-time secretary. And your mom informed me that she used to be a secretary, albeit for a few weeks before she met William. And guess what, Olivia?”

Olivia couldn’t help smiling. Zach was good, that was for sure.

“Your mother suggested that she take the job,”

Zach said. “Isn’t that wonderful? Kayla will have her grandmother right in her new home.”

“I’d like that,” her mother said, tears welling up in her eyes. “Say yes, Livvy.”

“Of course, Mom,” she said, squeezing her mother’s hand.

“Now where did that gorgeous grandchild of mine get to?” Candace asked, leaving the room.

“I thought that would make you happy,” Zach said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“It did. Ver y.” She waited on pins and needles, the hope making her chest hurt.

“I took a risk on calling your mom and inviting her up,” Zach said. “But I believed in here,” he added, patting his chest, “that she was as in the dark about Kayla as you were. When I called her, she broke down on the phone, sobbing that she hadn’t known, that she was terrified you wouldn’t believe HAUNTING OLIV IA

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her, that you’d never speak to her again, that she wouldn’t ever know her grandchild. We talked for a good hour.”

“I can’t tell you how much that means to me, Zach,” she said. “I’ll always have some issues with my mom, but I love her. And I’ve been so worried about her. Now I’ll know she’s secure and safe—

and working. I think she’ll love it. And I know she’ll love getting to know Kayla. She’ll spoil the girl rotten.”

Zach laughed. “So, until we move to the new house, I thought we’d put your mom in the guest room. She’ll be comfortable here, won’t she?”

Olivia nodded. “I’m sure she will be. And I’ll be fine on the living room couch. It’s so big and comfy.”

He laughed. “Silly, I was hoping you’d move into my bedroom.
Our
bedroom.” He lay down beside her, gently stroking her cheek.

She stared at him, the words slowly sinking in.

“Oh, Zach,” she said, so happy that the tears just started pouring. “I thought you’d never ask. I wasn’t
sure
you’d ask.”

He held her gaze, his fingers caressing her cheek.

“I love you, Olivia Sedgwick. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you too. And the same for me.”

“Will you marry me?” he asked. “Make our family complete?”

“Yes,” she whispered into his ear. “Yes, yes, yes.

I’ve wanted to marry you since I was sixteen. Olivia Archer,” she said, trying out the new name she’d adopt. “Has a beautiful ring to it, don’t you think?”