Testing Those Family Ties

Marrying into the elite Britton family had been hard for Olivia. Becoming a widow and raising her daughter alone had been tougher. Or so she thought. Her mother-in-law wanted custody of little Thea, and Olivia was desperate for help. But her best option was another Britton, the devastatingly charming Matt...the man she should have married.

Matt had vowed to look after Olivia and be a father figure to Thea while remaining loyal to the brother he’d lost. With Olivia needing him more than ever he knew the time had come to tell her exactly how he felt. Admitting his true feelings for Olivia could tear his family apart...yet it might also be the start of a new family for them both.

“Maybe I should invite myself to dinner,” Matt said lightly.

Olivia looked at him. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.” He grinned. “Single guys don’t get many home-cooked meals.”

Once again, she hesitated before answering, “Well, I know Thea will be thrilled if you stay to dinner.”

“Only Thea? What about you?”

“Are you digging for a compliment?”

“Everyone likes compliments.”

“Okay. I’m glad you want to have dinner with us. There. Are you satisfied?”

Now that the tone of their conversation had changed, he decided to make one more attempt to burrow through her defenses. “I was hoping you’d say you liked me, too.”

“Of course I like you, Matt. You’re part of the family.”

Because they were now approaching her mother’s house, he let the comment go without answering.

* * *

The Crandell Lake Chronicles: Small town, big hearts

The Man She Should Have Married

Patricia Kay

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Having formerly written as Trisha Alexander, PATRICIA KAY is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty-eight novels of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives in Houston, Texas. To learn more about her, visit her website at www.patriciakay.com.

This book is dedicated to all the amazing women in my life. I don’t know how any woman survives without girlfriends. Your friendship and support has meant the world to me. I love you all!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Crandall Lake, Texas

Mid-October...

Olivia Britton grinned at her cousin, the newly married Eve Crenshaw. “I’m so happy you’re here!”

Eve laughed. “You’ve already said that at least ten times.”

“I know. But I am. I’ve missed you.” In fact, Olivia couldn’t believe how much she’d missed Eve.

“Oh, come on, Liv. I’ve only been gone six weeks. And we’ve texted and talked on the phone almost every day.”

“It’s not the same,” Olivia insisted. “You’re not here. We can’t meet for lunch or have dinner together or just sit and talk for hours. And Thea misses you, too!” Thea, short for Dorothea, was Olivia’s four-year-old daughter.

Eve nodded. “I know. But no matter where I am, I’ll always be here for you...and Thea. You know that.” She drank some of her wine, then reached over and squeezed Olivia’s knee. “And I’m here now.”

The cousins were sitting on either end of the sofa in Olivia’s living room. Their children were settled upstairs for the night and it was blessedly quiet, so Olivia hoped they were all asleep. They should be. It was after eleven, and she and Eve could finally talk without curious ears.

Olivia sighed. Eve wasn’t just her cousin. She was also her best friend, someone Olivia had always looked up to, someone she’d known was just minutes away for a hug, a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear. The only person in the world who knew everything about her—well, almost everything—and could be completely trusted.

But now Eve would be spending the majority of her time in either Los Angeles or Nashville, where her new husband (and the twins’ birth father), the famous and fabulous Adam Crenshaw—composer and lead singer of the band Version II—had two magnificent homes.

Eve, along with her twins Nathan and Natalie, had come back to Crandall Lake for the weekend to join in the family celebration of Olivia’s mother’s birthday.

Olivia sighed again. She was thrilled for Eve. Her cousin had waited a long time for some true happiness. But Olivia also loved seeing her daughter with her older cousins, both of whom Thea adored. And now that Eve and the twins had settled in Los Angeles for the school year, nothing would ever be the same again, no matter what Eve said.

Eve was still talking, still making an obvious attempt to reassure Olivia. “I’ll be coming to Crandall Lake a lot. And you’ll be visiting us wherever we are. And you know, I’ve been thinking. If you want to, you and Thea can even travel with us when Adam has a concert and we’re able to go with him.”

“I have a job, you know.” But wouldn’t it be wonderful to be free of everything tying her down and just take Thea and go, the way Eve was suggesting? “Besides, I don’t think I should leave my mom.” Norma was newly diagnosed as a diabetic—something their family seemed to be genetically disposed to—and was having some trouble dealing with the disease.

Eve gave Olivia a sideways look. “Stella’s here.” Stella was Olivia’s younger sister and she lived within walking distance of their family home. “You said yourself she’s really stepped up to the plate and has educated herself about the disease so that she can help your mom.”

“I know, but...” Olivia evaded Eve’s gaze.

“Let’s talk about the real reason. You’re afraid Vivienne would make trouble for you if you moved.”

Olivia made a face. Her mother-in-law hated her in direct proportion to the possessiveness she felt for Thea, her only grandchild, the daughter of her perfect younger son, who had died so tragically in the crash of his Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan.

“Am I right? Or am I right?” Eve pressed.

“You’re right.”

“She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?”

“That’s a kind way of putting it.”

“I’ll never understand her.” Eve finished her wine and set the glass on the coffee table in front of them.

“I’m not sure anyone does.” Olivia got up and retrieved the still-half-full bottle of Merlot she’d opened earlier. She poured more into Eve’s glass. “Even Matt says she’s just used to getting her own way, and when she doesn’t, look out.”

She was referring to Matt Britton, her brother-in-law, Vivienne’s oldest son. He’d always been good to Olivia, in spite of his mother. In fact, since Mark’s death, Olivia wasn’t sure how she’d have coped with her mother-in-law if not for Matt.

From day one, Vivienne Britton had been furious that Mark, her obvious favorite child, had wanted to marry “a nobody” like Olivia Dubrovnik instead of Charlotte Chambers, the daughter of the Brittons’ oldest friends. Charlotte was “our kind” and “perfect for you” as she’d told Mark many times, once even in Olivia’s hearing. It still amazed Olivia that Mark had defied his mother, because in all other things he had always done what she wanted him to do.

“Let’s not talk about her anymore.” Olivia poured more wine into her own glass and sat down again, curling her bare legs under her.

Eve smiled. “Good idea. Instead, let’s talk about you dating again.”

“I’m only thinking about dating again,” Olivia corrected. “I haven’t really decided. Besides, it’s not like there’s a line of eligible men out the door.”

There was one person who interested her, and for a moment, she was tempted to tell Eve about him, but pushed the urge away, because the situation was impossible. She felt a bit guilty about not telling Eve, because normally she told her everything, but in this case, her gut told her it was best not to put her feelings into words.

“The reason guys aren’t lining up is because no one knows you’re ready,” Eve said.

“I can hardly make an announcement.”

“No, but I can get the word out.”

Olivia stared at her. “What are you going to do? Put a notice in the Courier?” Eve had worked for the Crandall Lake Courier before marrying Adam in August.

Eve grinned, a sly look in her eyes. “No, but I just might mention it casually to Austin when we see him Sunday morning.”

“Austin!” Olivia was startled. Austin Crenshaw was one of Adam’s younger brothers. A successful lawyer, he took care of all Adam’s personal and professional legal and financial matters. “Why would he care?”

“Surely you saw how he was checking you out at the wedding,” Eve said. Austin had been Adam’s best man, and Olivia had served as Eve’s matron of honor.

“That’s ridiculous!” Olivia said. “He was just being polite to his new sister-in-law’s cousin.”

Eve shook her head knowingly. “Nope. He’s interested. I know the signs. And he’d be perfect for you.”

“That’s crazy. I am so not in his league.”

“Why are you constantly putting yourself down? He couldn’t find anyone better if he tried!”

Olivia loved that her cousin was always so loyal, but she had to face facts. “C’mon, Eve. If he’d really been interested, as you say, why hasn’t he called me or something?”

“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”

“No, no. Please don’t say anything to him.”

“I’ll just casually bring up your name Sunday.”

“No! Please, Eve. I really don’t want you to.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Eve insisted. “Austin and I have a great relationship. Since Adam and I got married, I’ve really gotten to know him. We’ve sort of bonded. And he’s a really great guy.”

Olivia knew, just from the determined look on Eve’s face, that she was not going to be dissuaded. It was useless to keep trying. Because, if she did, Eve would eventually wonder why. “Okay, but don’t say anything in front of the kids.” Eve and her twins were meeting Austin for breakfast Sunday.

“Don’t worry.” Eve smiled, happy now she’d gotten her way. “I’ll be discreet. The kids won’t hear me.”

“Thing is, I don’t want him to think I put you up to talking to him.” The very idea made Olivia cringe. Why had she even mentioned she was thinking about dating? She should have known Eve would latch on to that and start suggesting possible candidates. She gave a mental sigh. Austin did seem nice. Plus he certainly was easy on the eyes. All the Crenshaw men were. And since the one man who did interest her was completely and totally off-limits...

“Quit worrying,” Eve said. “That’s my job, remember?”

Olivia smiled. Worrying was Eve’s job, always had been. She was the conservative one, the cautious one. Olivia had always been more impulsive, more willing to take a chance.

But that was before she’d had Thea.

Before she was a mother.

Now her first priority would always be her daughter, and that meant she had to think carefully before she did anything that might negatively impact Thea’s life in any way.

“Seriously, Eve,” she said, “I’m not in any hurry. If I do get into another relationship, he’d have to be pretty special...after Mark.” It made her sad to think about Mark, who was her first love. They’d only been married months before he went to Afghanistan. They’d had so little time. His life had been cut so short, and he’d died so young. And without ever holding or knowing his daughter, except for photos and images on Skype.

“I know,” Eve said. “You have plenty of time, and I’m sure, once the guys around here—Austin included—know you’re ready, there’ll be no shortage of possible candidates.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. She wasn’t anywhere near as confident as Eve that men would be lining up to take on a widow with a small child.

The cousins continued to talk for another hour or so, but when the Wedgewood clock on the mantel chimed one o’clock, Eve yawned and stretched. “I’m beat.”

“Me, too. We’d better get to bed. Tomorrow’s a big day.” Olivia got up and took Eve’s glass. “You can use the bathroom first. I’ll take these out to the kitchen and be there in a minute.” The cousins were sharing Olivia’s bedroom and the king-size bed she and Mark had so happily purchased together.

As she rinsed out the wineglasses and put them in the dishwasher, Olivia decided she was going to make the most of the weekend. She wasn’t going to think about her mother-in-law or about Eve going back to LA or the way Olivia’s own life had not turned out the way she’d once imagined it would.

She was just going to relax, have fun, eat some salty and sugary junk food, and thoroughly enjoy having Eve and the kids home again.

No matter what.

* * *

“It’s a gorgeous day, isn’t it?” Eve exclaimed. “I love autumn in the Hill Country.”

“Me, too,” Olivia said, linking her arm through Eve’s.

The cousins were strolling through the grounds where Crandall Lake’s Fall Festival, an annual celebration featuring music, food, games and rides as well as various craft items for sale, took place every October.

Norma Dubrovnik, Olivia’s mother, and her older sister, Anna Cermak, Eve’s mother, were walking up ahead. Between the older women and the two younger women were Nathan and Natalie, with Olivia’s Thea between them. Each twin had one of Thea’s hands, and every few steps they’d lift their little cousin and swing her out, then set her back on her feet again. Thea’s delighted giggles peppered the air.

“Liv, Eve, hurry up! You’re so poky!” Olivia looked around to see her younger sister Stella waving and calling to them.

“We’re coming,” Eve said as they caught up to where Stella stood.

“I thought you’d gone home or something,” Olivia said. “You disappeared.”

“I spied my boss by the pizza booth, and I went over to talk to her,” Stella said. She was laughing, her fresh face and bright eyes a clear sign that life hadn’t yet dealt her any devastating blows. Olivia hoped it never would.

Just as Eve and Olivia reached the rest of their group, who were now gathered by the crowded booth where hot funnel cakes were cooked and sold, Olivia’s mother said, “It’s so hot.” She was mopping at her forehead with a tissue.

Olivia frowned. It wasn’t hot. In fact, the weather was perfect. Sixty-eight degrees and sunny, according to her phone just thirty minutes earlier.

“I don’t feel good,” her mother continued. Her face had drained of color, and she swayed.

“Norma,” Eve’s mother said, reaching out to put her arm around her sister. “C’mon, let’s go sit on that bench over there.” She met Olivia’s eyes. “She’s shaking.”

Alarmed, Olivia said, “Mom. What’s wr—” But she never had a chance to finish what she was going to say because at that moment Norma just seemed to fold in on herself and slumped to the ground. “Mom!” Olivia dropped down to where her mother lay.

“Norma!” This came from Eve’s mother, who knelt next to Olivia.

People around them buzzed with concern and several onlookers crouched down.

“Mom,” Stella said, patting Norma, who was struggling to sit up. “What happened?”

“I—I don’t know. I just feel so weak.”

“Did you eat breakfast this morning?” Olivia asked.

“What’s going on here?” said an authoritative male voice.

Olivia looked up. She knew that voice. It was Dr. Groves, Thea’s pediatrician. “Dr. Groves, this is my mother. She said she was hot and she was sweating, but her face was white. Then she just collapsed. I think it’s a low blood sugar reaction. She’s a diabetic. Newly diagnosed.”

“On oral meds or insulin?”

“Oral,” Stella said. “She takes them in the morning and again at night.”

“When did she eat last?”

“I—I had some toast for breakfast,” Norma said weakly.

“Nothing since? No protein?” Dr. Groves asked.

Stella shook her head. “I don’t think so. We’ve been here since ten o’clock.”

Olivia mentally sighed. Her mother still didn’t seem to realize the importance of eating at regular intervals and keeping her meals balanced, even though they’d already had several discussions about the potential consequences.

“She needs sugar, fast,” Dr. Groves said. “She’s having a low blood sugar reaction. This happens when diabetics are on meds and don’t eat the right things often enough.”

“She can have my funnel cake,” one of the onlookers said. The woman, someone Olivia didn’t know, thrust forward her paper plate containing a sugared funnel cake. “I just got it.”

“That’s good,” the doctor said, “but some orange juice would be faster acting. Once we get her blood sugar stabilized, she’ll need something more substantial, with protein, like a hot dog or one of those chicken drumsticks they’re selling.”

“I’ll go get some orange juice,” Nathan piped up. “There’s a juice stand right over there.” He pointed to one about a hundred feet away. “I have tickets!” He held up a strip of the tickets used in lieu of money at all the booths.

In all the confusion Olivia had lost track of Thea, and she looked around as Nathan ran off, and Dr. Groves continued to monitor her mother, but she didn’t see Thea. She saw Natalie, though, and called to her. “Where’s Thea, honey?”

Natalie frowned and looked around. “She...she was just here.”

Olivia’s mother was now sitting on a nearby bench, with her sister, the doctor and Stella in attendance. They were feeding her some funnel cake. Olivia, who wasn’t yet alarmed, figured Thea was simply hidden by one of the members of the group of people waiting on funnel cakes or lured by the earlier commotion of her mother’s collapse. She headed toward Eve, who still stood near the booth with Natalie. At the moment, the young girl seemed a lot older than her almost-twelve years, with her worried face and frightened eyes. She took her responsibility of watching after Thea very seriously.

“Thea!” Olivia called as she walked through the clusters of people. “Thea, honey, where are you?”

Eve frowned and hurried toward Olivia. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t see Thea anywhere.” Now Olivia’s voice held an edge of fear.

“Natalie?” Eve said, eyeing her daughter.

Natalie looked stricken. “Mom, I—I don’t know where she is.”

“But you were holding her hand, honey. You and Nathan said you were going to watch her today.”

“I know, Mom, but Auntie Norma fainted and...and I must have let go of her hand. I—I don’t know where Thea went.” The last word was a wail, and Natalie’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, my God,” Olivia said. Her heart had begun to hammer, and full-blown panic had set in. Now she looked around frantically. “Thea! Thea! Where are you?”

By now, several people had stopped whatever they were doing and were staring at her. One of them said to Eve, “What’s wrong?”

Eve quickly explained. “She’s probably just wandered off, but–”

“But what if she hasn’t?” Olivia cried. “What if...” She couldn’t even finish the thought. Horrible images flashed through her mind in the space of seconds. Thea was so little. So sweet and innocent and trusting. And so very beautiful with her blond curly hair, the exact shade of her father’s, and her shining brown eyes, just like Olivia’s own. Olivia closed her eyes, also thinking how inquisitive her daughter was, how interested in things, the way she would talk to strangers. “Please, God,” she whispered. “Please, God, let her be okay.”

Her greatest fear was losing Thea. Losing Mark had been hard enough, but losing Thea was unthinkable.

“Liv, she’s okay, I know she is,” Eve said. “Let’s look methodically. Think, Natalie, did she say anything?”

Natalie’s tear-stained face screwed up in thought. “I—I think she said something about a kitty right before Auntie Norma said she didn’t feel good.”

“A kitten!” Olivia said. “Maybe...maybe she saw a kitten.” She looked at Eve. “You know how she loves cats. She...she’s been begging for one for months.” Olivia had been waiting, thinking she’d surprise Thea at Christmas.

“Let’s get some of these people looking. She can’t have gone far,” Eve said. She turned to one of the nearby groups. “Her little girl’s wandered off. We need help looking for her.”

“I’ll notify security,” a man said, taking out his cell phone. “I know the man in charge. What’s the little girl’s name?”

Within moments, Eve had organized a search party armed with Thea’s description and information, the head of security had arrived and been briefed, and 9-1-1 had also been called.

Olivia felt sick with fear. It was all she could do not to break down completely, but she knew if she did, she’d be useless. She forced herself to take deep breaths...and think. Thank God for Eve. And thank God, Olivia’s mother didn’t know what was happening, because Thea was her only grandchild, too, and totally adored.

But it wouldn’t be long before Norma would find out about Thea, because Olivia could see two police officers coming toward them, and the head of security here at the festival had just told her they were going to get an announcement on the loudspeaker so that everyone attending the festival would be on the lookout for Thea.

“Olivia?” The oldest police officer, a man Olivia recognized as Tom Nicholls, looked at her. His wife, Betty, was a nurse at the Crandall Lake Hospital where Olivia worked in Admitting and Registration. “It’s your daughter that’s missing?”

“Yes.” Olivia stepped forward, with Eve and Natalie right behind.

For the next five minutes they gave Tom Nicholls all the information he asked for. Natalie was also questioned, and then Nicholls got on the phone and fired off orders. A dozen more search parties were organized, and throughout, Olivia fought against the panic threatening to paralyze her. She very nearly gave in to it when she wanted to join one of the search parties and Nicholls wouldn’t let her.

“You need to be at the security tent,” he said. “That’s going to be our command post and where Thea will be brought when she’s found. And she’ll need you then. You can’t be off somewhere searching.” Without waiting for her to protest, he beckoned to another officer. “Officer Wilkins here will take you to the security tent.”

“I’ll go and tell your mom and the others what’s happening. Then I’ll find you,” Eve said, giving her a quick hug. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie. I love you.”

Olivia bit back her tears and allowed herself to be led off. She couldn’t help remembering how, the night before, her last thought before going to bed had been about how much fun today was going to be.

What a fool she was.

She had tempted fate.

And now fate was showing her, once again, that she had no control over anything.

Chapter Two

Matthew Lawrence Britton wondered for about the thousandth time if he really did want to run for the US House of Representatives. He’d been greeting possible supporters at the festival for less than two hours, and he was already sick of it. And the election he was aiming for was more than two years away! He hated having to ask people for money, but without money—big money—no one, no matter what your name was, had a chance of winning an important election anymore.

Even more to the point, and the main thing that had been bothering him, was the fact he enjoyed his job as an assistant criminal district attorney for Hays County. And he was good at it. He might even have a shot at district attorney when his boss retired—something that was rumored to happen fairly soon.

But everyone, friends and family alike, seemed to think a more national stage was the road he should take. They had been pressuring him for a while now, ever since the idea had been floated by an influential former law professor of his. Even his sister-in-law, Olivia, had weighed in, saying he’d make a wonderful representative for their district. He guessed he’d better make a final decision soon.

With all this on his mind, he was just about to approach Wylie Sheridan, an old family friend, when the loudspeakers dotted around the festival grounds crackled to life.

“This is an emergency message. May I have your attention, everyone?” boomed an authoritative male voice. “We have a missing child. Four-year-old Thea Britton has been separated from her family. Thea has curly blond hair and brown eyes. She’s wearing blue denim pants, red sneakers, and a red-and-white-striped long-sleeved T-shirt and has a red bow in her hair. If anyone sees her now or remembers seeing her recently, please come to the security tent next to the main pavilion or call this number.” He went on to give the number, then say that Thea had last been seen by the funnel cake booth. “She may have been chasing after a cat or kitten.”

Matt had his phone out and had pressed Olivia’s cell phone number before the announcement was finished. Thea was Matt’s godchild, and even if she hadn’t been the daughter of his late brother, Mark, Matt would have loved her. Thea was special—smart and sweet, loving and beautiful.

Just like her mother.

The thought, which had come more and more often lately, still had the power to make him feel guilty. He knew this emotion was ridiculous. Mark was gone. And he would have been the first to want Matt to take care of Olivia. Wouldn’t he?

“Olivia?” Matt said when she answered. “I just heard the announcement about Thea. Where are you?”

“I’m at the security tent. The police want me to st-stay here.” Her voice broke in a sob. “Oh, Matt, I’m so scared. She was right there, then she just disappeared!”

“I’m coming. I’ll be there in two minutes.” He was already running, his heart racing along with his feet. “It’ll be okay. We’ll find her.”

When he reached the security tent, Olivia was pacing outside the door. She looked so forlorn, and so beautiful. Without thinking whether he should or shouldn’t, he pulled her into his arms. Her slight body trembled, and more than anything, he wished he could tell her how he felt about her, how much he wanted to take care of her.

But this wasn’t the time...or the place. And even if it was, he had no idea how she would react to this kind of declaration. He refused to think what he’d do if he confessed his feelings and she shot him down. Once he’d put those feelings into words, he knew they could never go back to their present relationship of caring brother-in-law to his brother’s widow.

“Matt, oh, Matt,” she sobbed. “I’m so afraid. The woods, the river, the lake. Who knows how far she’s gone? You know how she is. How she always wants to investigate things. The questions she asks. What if...if someone...took her? But the police... I—I wanted to look for her, too, but they said I needed to stay here.” Her body shuddered.

Matt inhaled the subtle fragrance of her silky hair as he held her and said over and over, “They’ll find her. You’ve got everybody looking. They’ll find her.” But his mind was whirling as he imagined all the things that could have happened to Thea. He loved her as much as he had finally admitted—to himself if to no one else—he loved her mother.

Sometimes he wondered if he had always loved Olivia. Always wanted her. There was something about her that had touched him from the moment he was introduced to her when she and Mark were dating. Matt had always championed the underdog; it was simply part of his nature, and Olivia—in terms of how his parents viewed her, anyway—was definitely the underdog.

Matt’s mother, in particular, disliked her daughter-in-law intensely and criticized her constantly: she wasn’t raising their granddaughter to the standards of a Britton; she plopped the child in day care instead of allowing Vivienne to hire a nanny and have Thea raised in her grandparents’ home under proper guidance and supervision; and worst of all, Vivienne considered Olivia to be one of the major reasons Mark was killed—because, in Vivienne’s view—Olivia wasn’t the wife he needed and kept him distracted and worried about his family instead of focusing on his job as a Black Hawk pilot. Unsaid was her bitter disappointment that the son she had imagined doing great things after fulfilling his service to his country, the son she’d envisioned going up the political ladder to high office, possibly the highest office, was gone forever. Olivia had been, and still was, a convenient scapegoat.

Matt’s father was more tolerant than his wife and might have been okay with Olivia’s entrance into the Britton family, but Vivienne ruled in the elder Brittons’ home, and it was always easier for her husband to keep the peace and just go along. Actually, if Matt were being really honest with himself, he’d admit he’d long known his father was weak. That as long as he was able to live his privileged life, he didn’t seem to care how that life was obtained or maintained.

Olivia finally withdrew from Matt’s embrace and raised her tear-stained face to look at him. Her soft brown eyes met his. “I’m so glad you’re here. I—I thought about calling you, but in all the confu—”

“It’s okay. I know. C’mon, let’s go sit down.” He gestured to a nearby bench. When she hesitated, glancing back at the security tent, he said, “Don’t worry. I’ll let them know you’re right here. If they want you, they’ll come out and get you.”

For the next hour, both Matt and her cousin Eve tried to keep Olivia calm as people came and went, as the security team and the police department officers combined their efforts and the search parties combed the nearby grounds and questioned dozens of people.

Olivia eventually just looked numb. Her eyes clouded with worry and fear, she kept biting her bottom lip and twisting her hands. She couldn’t sit still, and every ten minutes or so she’d jump up and start pacing again. Or her phone would ring and she’d either talk or she’d say, “I can’t talk! I have to keep the line clear in case...” Then her voice would trail off and she’d have to sit down again.

Matt and Eve, whom he’d met several times—and liked very much—exchanged a lot of concerned looks. He knew what Eve was thinking, because he was thinking it, too. The longer it took the searchers to find Thea, the more likely it was the outcome of the searching wouldn’t be good. His own fear felt like a huge weight in his chest, and it was all he could do to keep that fear from showing.

Olivia needed him...and Eve...to be strong.

He thought about calling his parents, but he didn’t. The last thing Olivia needed was for his mother to come charging over to the festival with her accusations and criticisms.

But after more than two hours had gone by, and one by one the search teams reported in with no success, Matt knew he could no longer delay notifying his parents. He waited until Olivia was busy with Officer Nicholls, and then he walked a few feet away and placed the call.

His mother answered. “Hello, Matthew,” she said. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Matt gritted his teeth at this subtle dig. She never missed a chance to let him know he wasn’t living up to her expectations. “Listen, Mom. I need to tell you something. Now, don’t get hysterical, but I’m at the festival, and... Thea is missing. The police are here, and—”

“I see,” his mother said, interrupting. “And just how did that happen? Just exactly how did my granddaughter go missing?”

Matt blinked. What was wrong with his mother? She didn’t sound the least bit upset, just disdainful.

“What happened is,” he said in the most measured tone he could manage, “Olivia’s family is here celebrating her mother’s birthday, and her mother felt sick and fainted, and in all the commotion, Thea wandered off. The authorities organized search parties, but they haven’t found—”

“Of course they haven’t found her.”

“What the hell?” Matt said, losing his temper. “Aren’t you even upset? Your only grandchild is missing and all you can do is imply the security people, the police, aren’t doing their—”

“Do not swear at me, Matthew,” she said, interrupting him again. “I’m not upset because Thea is here.”

“She’s what?”

“You heard me. She’s here. Where she should be. Safe and sound. More than I can say for when she’s in her so-called mother’s so-called care.”

If his mother had been physically in his presence, Matt knew he might have choked her, he was that angry. “And just how did she happen to be there? Did someone find her and bring her to you?”

“I found her. I was at the festival myself, earlier, and I saw her wandering all alone, that family of her mother’s nowhere to be seen, so I did what any grandmother would do. I scooped her up and I brought her home. She’s even now upstairs playing happily in the nursery. In fact, I can hear her talking. I think she’s on Buddy Boy.” Buddy Boy was the name of the rocking horse that had been in Vivienne’s family since she was a child. “You know how she loves Buddy Boy and how she talks to him, just like her father did when he was a boy. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must get back—”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Matt said, doing his own interrupting now. His heart was once again hammering, but not in fear this time. He felt murderous rage, mixed with disbelief. How could his mother be so downright cruel? He was appalled by Vivienne’s behavior and the way she had so callously disregarded the fear and worry Olivia and her family were feeling. Hell, that he’d been feeling! And all those people who had been searching for hours. The police, the security people...it all boggled his mind.

He disconnected the call and strode to where Olivia was still talking to Tom Nicholls. “Call off the search party,” he told Tom. “Thea’s been found. She’s at my mother’s.”

Ignoring Nicholls’s startled expression and the inevitable questions, Matt took Olivia’s arm and said, “C’mon, let’s go get her. I’ll explain everything on the way.”

Eve, who had heard the exchange, met Matt’s eyes. She looked stunned, but didn’t say anything.

“She’ll call you, or I will, after we get Thea,” he said. “Tell the others.”

Eve nodded and Matt knew she’d take care of things there.

“Where’d you park?” Olivia asked, her face beginning to portray her conflicting emotions. Matt still found it hard to believe his mother had done this unspeakable thing. To take Thea home and never call Olivia to tell her where Thea was defied every standard of decent behavior. He’d always known how manipulative and controlling his mother was—and how insensitive to the feelings of others when they interfered with what she wanted—but he’d never imagined she was actually heartless and devoid of compassion for a fellow human being.

“On Waterside,” he said. “This way.” Grabbing Olivia’s hand, he led her through the crowd and together, they hurried to where his BMW was parked. He hit his remote, the doors unlocked, and Olivia was in the passenger seat before he could even think of helping her. In minutes, they were on their way.

As he drove, he quickly told her a sanitized version of his conversation with his mother. From the way Olivia’s throat worked, he knew what she must be feeling, yet all she said was, “I don’t really care why your mother did what she did...or what she said. I’m just thankful Thea is okay. And I just want to get her and take her home.”

“I know.” But he also knew when she’d had time to really think about this, Olivia would feel differently. In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up forbidding his mother to see Thea again. Hell, if he was in Olivia’s shoes, he might consider moving away from Crandall Lake to put as much distance between her and his mother as she could.

Even the thought that Olivia might move away made him want to do something terrible to his mother.

Barely twelve minutes had elapsed since his phone conversation with Vivienne before Matt and Olivia were pulling into the long drive leading to his parents’ stately home. Matt parked in the front turnaround, and again Olivia was out of the car and dashing up the shallow front steps before he managed to get out himself.

Olivia jabbed at the doorbell, but Matt, who had a key to the house, shoved it into the lock and opened the door himself. The first thing he saw was his mother, looking coolly elegant in tailored black pants paired with a black-and-white geometric top, her expertly colored blond hair in a chin-length style she’d recently adopted. Vivienne was halfway down the curving staircase that led to the second floor. She stopped at their entrance and lifted her head defiantly. Her blue eyes met Matt’s. She ignored Olivia.

“I’ve come for my daughter,” Olivia said, her voice only betraying a tiny tremor.

Vivienne turned her icy glare to Olivia. “You’re wasting your time, because I won’t allow you to take her. It’s quite obvious she’s not safe with you, and I can’t have you putting her in danger again.”

Matt attempted to interrupt her, but she ignored him and kept going. “I’m not surprised, though. I’ve always known you weren’t a fit mother. You’re just lucky I’m the one who found her. That some crazy person didn’t abduct her.”

“Mother—” Matt stopped, took a deep breath to keep his voice calm in case they could be heard upstairs. “You can’t keep Thea here. Olivia is her mother, and she has every right to take Thea home with her. Now before—”

“Before what?” his mother said, her voice rising a notch. “Are you going to physically manhandle me? Threaten me? Your own mother? You’d better be careful, Matthew, or I will—”

Before Vivienne could finish her sentence, Olivia ran to the stairway and pushed past his mother, nearly causing Vivienne to lose her balance, but she managed to grab the banister in time. Matt didn’t hesitate. He, too, went up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He didn’t look at his mother as he passed her. He didn’t trust himself. He couldn’t remember ever being this angry.

Olivia had already entered the old nursery where both he and Mark, as well as their younger sister, Madeleine, had spent the major part of their childhood. By the time Matt caught up, he sensed rather than saw his mother a few feet behind him.

Amelia, who had been the Britton family housekeeper since before Matt was born, sat in a child-sized chair as she watched Thea, sitting across from her, happily putting together a puzzle. “I’m sorry, Mr. Matt,” Amelia said, looking up as he entered the room. “But she wouldn’t listen to me when I told your mother she should call Miss Olivia.”

“I know this isn’t your fault,” Matt said as Olivia, with a cry, ran to Thea. She picked her up and kissed her over and over again.

“Mommy! Stop!” Thea said, looking at Matt. “Unca Matt!” She tried to squirm out of her mother’s grasp, raising her arms to Matt.

“Oh, sweetheart! I thought you were lost,” Olivia said. “I’m just so happy you’re not.”

“I wasn’t lost. Mimi found me.” Mimi was the pet name Vivienne had insisted Thea call her, saying the title of grandmother implied she was old. Matt had rolled his eyes when he heard that one.

“Good. I must thank Mimi,” Olivia said, still hugging Thea.

“Mommy, let me down,” Thea said again.

“We’re taking her home now,” Matt said to his mother, who stood behind him.

“You’re going to be sorry for this,” Vivienne muttered under her breath.

Matt knew she was keeping her voice down because she didn’t want to make a scene in front of Thea. Nor did he, and he knew Olivia felt the same way. They might have their issues with his mother, and she might be extremely misguided, but she was still Thea’s grandmother, and Thea loved her Mimi and Poppa.

“Mommy!” Thea shouted. “I said I want Unca Matt!”

Olivia, meeting Matt’s eyes, finally let Thea loose, and she ran into his arms. Matt picked her up and held her close. Laughing, she wrapped her little arms around him and snuggled in. If someone had asked Matt how he felt at this moment, he wasn’t sure he would have been able to put his emotions into words. His heart was too full. Right here in this room were the two people in the world who meant the most to him, and somehow, some way, he had to figure out how to keep them both safe forever. But at the present moment, he just needed to get them out of here.

“Where’s Dad?” he asked his mother as he motioned for Olivia to precede him out of the room.

“Playing golf,” his mother said coldly. “Where else?”

“Tell him I’ll call him later.”

When she didn’t answer, just gave him another icy stare, then turned and walked down the hall toward her bedroom, he sighed and followed Olivia down the stairs and out to the car.

As Matt drove Olivia and Thea back to the festival to pick up Olivia’s car, he apologized in an undertone for the things his mother had said.

“Forget it,” she said. “Thea is safe, I have her back, and that’s all that counts.”

That was the most important thing, yes, but Matt knew there were going to be repercussions to this episode. However, no matter what it cost him, he’d already decided he’d do everything in his power to make sure none of those repercussions affected Olivia. The guilt for this debacle lay at one door, and that door wasn’t hers.

When they reached Olivia’s car, she thanked him. “I don’t know what I’d’ve done if you hadn’t been with me today. I—I would have put off calling your mother because...” Her voice trailed off.

“I know.” He wondered how long his mother would have kept Thea without notifying Olivia. He wanted to think she would have relented and done the decent thing, yet would she? Surely, when his father arrived home she would have had to tell him what she’d done.

But maybe not. Maybe she’d have made up some story and his father would have been none the wiser. It wasn’t as if Thea had never spent the night with his parents. Olivia had been generous, even when his mother had not. That quality—Olivia’s generosity—was one of the many things about her he’d grown to admire.

“I’ll always be there for you and Thea, Olivia,” he said, reaching out and squeezing her shoulder.

That brought a smile to her face. “Thanks, Matt. Eve said something similar last night. I’m lucky to have you guys, I know that.”

Not that lucky, he thought. But he smiled, too. “That’s the Olivia I know. A glass half-full girl.”

“Yeah, that’s me. A cockeyed optimist.”

“Nothing wrong with that.”

“Mommy, put me down,” Thea said, struggling to get out of Olivia’s arms once again.

“Thea, you know you have to be belted into your seat,” Olivia said. “So you can be safe, and we can go home.”

“I don’t wanna go home. I wanna go back to the festable. With Unca Matt.”

“Festival,” Olivia said.

“That’s what I said! Festable!”

Matt wanted to laugh. Thea might be sweet and loving most of the time, but she was also a very bright, very determined and very stubborn four-year-old with definite opinions of her own. “I’m not going back to the festival, honey. I’m going home and you’re going home, too, because your Grammy and Aunt Stella and everyone is waiting for you. I think you’re having birthday cake, right?”

“Uncle Matt’s right,” Olivia said. “Grammy will need help blowing out her candles.”

“Candles!” Thea said with a delighted smile, obviously forgetting all about the festival. “Presents, too?”

“Yes, presents, too,” Olivia said.

“For me!”

“No, honey, not for you. You’re not the birthday girl today. Grammy is.”

Thea gave her mother a look that said that didn’t seem fair. “Unca Matt’s coming, too.”

“No, sweetheart, I can’t.” He wanted to say he hadn’t been invited, but he knew that wasn’t fair. He’d be putting Olivia on the spot.

Thea looked as if she was going to protest that, too, but she didn’t, and finally allowed Matt to get her buckled into her seat and kissed him goodbye.

Once Thea was safely settled in her Camry, Olivia turned to him. “Thanks, again, Matt.” She lowered her voice. “Do I need to call anyone, do you think? Like Chief Donnelly? Apologize for everything?”

Barton Donnelly, the chief of police in Crandall Lake, was a crony of Matt’s father. Matt would be sure to apprise him of what had actually happened. No way was he letting Olivia take the fall for any of this. “I’ll take care of it,” he assured her. “Don’t worry. Just enjoy the rest of the weekend with your family, and we’ll talk tomorrow night after Eve’s gone. She is leaving tomorrow, right?”

“That’s the plan,” Olivia said. “Luckily for her, she has her husband’s plane and pilot at her disposal.”

Matt could see the weariness returning to Olivia’s face. The stress of everything that had happened today had exhausted her. He gave her a quick hug, careful to make it brotherly and not lover-like, then stood watching as she walked around to the passenger side of her car, got in and drove away.

As always, when they parted company, the world seemed less bright with her gone. If only he could always be there for her in the way he wanted to be, but if today had shown him anything, it had shown him how hopeless his situation actually was. For even if Olivia should ever feel the same way about him that he felt about her, the only way they could ever be together would be for him to break all ties with his family, and for him and Olivia and Thea to leave Crandall Lake behind forever.

And that was impossible.

For them...and for him.

Wasn’t it?

Chapter Three

Olivia wasn’t quite as forgiving as she had pretended to be. She just hadn’t wanted to cause any more trouble between Matt and his mother. Because if Matt kept siding with her against his mother, things would only get worse. His parents weren’t just Thea’s grandparents. They were one of the most influential couples in the state.

Hugh Britton was the president of a large commercial real estate and investment firm Vivienne’s great-grandfather had founded, and the family owned thousands of acres of property around Texas and parts of Oklahoma, including the oil and mineral rights in places that continued to add to the family coffers. The Britton family influence was vast, their resources unlimited, and Olivia, no matter how angry and upset she was over what Vivienne had done today, did not want to worsen an already touchy situation.

In addition, even though she hadn’t admitted this to anyone, including Eve, Olivia had begun to have feelings for Matt—feelings that extended beyond those of family ties. She knew it was unwise, she knew what she felt for him could never go anywhere—in fact, he could never even know—but she couldn’t seem to help herself. More than any other member of Mark’s family, she had been drawn to Matt from the first day they’d met. Perhaps it was because he was so kind and welcoming, such a contrast to his mother. As she’d gotten to know him better, she’d realized he was a genuinely good man and well respected, in addition to being handsome and smart and fun to be with. She didn’t know exactly what it was about him that drew her. All she knew was, the admiration and connection she’d felt for him as her brother-in-law had morphed into something else in the last year.

So the last thing she wanted was to cause any problems for him. It was bad enough he had helped her today. Vivienne would probably make his life hell because of it.

Oh, Matt, why can’t we just be two normal people? Why do we have to have this complicated relationship that spells only trouble for us?

This question...and more...lay heavy on her mind as she called Eve to tell her they were on their way.

“We’re at your mom’s house, waiting,” Eve said.

“Be there in ten.”

“Is everything okay?”

Olivia sighed. “We’ll talk later.”

When Olivia pulled into the driveway at her mother’s house, Eve and the twins were waiting on the front porch. The cousins exchanged looks as the twins boisterously greeted Thea.

“I’ll tell you everything tonight,” Olivia murmured as the screen door opened and the rest of the family emerged. While her mother, Eve’s mother and Stella hugged and kissed Thea and told her not to ever scare them like that again, Eve just watched and smiled. But she covertly took Olivia’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

“So I guess this was all a big misunderstanding?” Eve’s mother said carefully.

“Yes,” Olivia said in an equally even tone, “Thea’s Mimi couldn’t find us, so she made sure Thea was safe, didn’t she, sweetheart?”

Thea nodded happily. “Mimi said you wouldn’t care, Mommy.”

“Well, I did care, and I was worried because Mimi didn’t call me, but I’m just glad you’re okay. We all are.”

Olivia knew they all understood what she wouldn’t say in front of the children, so the subject was dropped, and the matter of the birthday cake and presents were introduced, much to the excitement of Thea. The twins gamely joined in the fun, and Olivia was able, for a little while at least, to relax and just enjoy being with the people she loved most in the world.

Like Thea, she did wish Matt could be there, though. She wished she could have invited him, but her family, especially Eve, were too sharp, too aware of Olivia and her emotions, especially since Mark’s death. It was hard enough to keep the right tone and distance when it was just the two cousins together, but Matt amongst her family? Olivia was afraid she’d somehow give herself away. And having her family know how she felt about Matt would make a tough situation impossible.

“Auntie Norma, Mom said this is a special birthday,” Natalie said after the cake and ice cream had been consumed and Norma was preparing to open her gifts.

Olivia’s mother beamed. “It is. It’s my social security birthday, so I can retire now, if I want to.”

“You mean from your job at Dr. Ross’s?” asked Nathan. Dr. Ross was a popular veterinarian in Crandall Lake, and Norma was his office manager.

“Yes,” Norma answered.

“Are you going to, Grandma?” Natalie persisted.

“I don’t think so. Not yet, anyway,” Olivia’s mother said. She grinned. “I like my job. I’d miss the animals.”

Nathan nodded. “I thought so. And Grumpy would miss you.”

They all laughed, agreeing. Grumpy was a rescue cat Dr. Ross had adopted, and he’d turned into the office mascot, living there 24/7. All the pet owners who visited the office enjoyed Grumpy.

Olivia hoped her mother stuck to that decision. Sixty-seven was too young to retire nowadays. Plus it wasn’t as if her mother was wealthy. She had some savings, Olivia knew, and some insurance money left from when Olivia’s dad died, but her mother could live another twenty years...or longer. No, it was better if her mother stayed on the job as long as she could, and not just because of finances. Everything Olivia knew from her hospital job showed that remaining engaged and active was good for older people, that they lived longer and healthier lives because of it.

Olivia continued to think about her mother while Norma opened her presents. When she finished, it was time to gather everyone and head for home.

“Will we see you at church in the morning?” Eve’s mother asked as Olivia, Eve and the children said their goodbyes.

After agreeing they would, the cousins took their leave and headed for Olivia’s house, just minutes away.

It took nearly forty minutes, but finally the twins and Thea were settled in the living room with the movie Frozen, although Nathan was also playing a game on his iPad. Olivia and Eve headed for the kitchen, where Olivia put the kettle on so they could have tea.

“Tell me everything,” Eve said quietly.

So Olivia did. By the time their tea was ready, she’d finished with her blow-by-blow account of the scene at the elder Brittons’ home.

“She’s unbelievable,” Eve said, shaking her head. “I just don’t know what she thought she was accomplishing by keeping Thea there and not telling you.”

“With her twisted logic, she probably thought she was reinforcing her belief that I’m an unfit mother.”

“Doesn’t she realize you could keep her from seeing Thea at all?”

Olivia shrugged. “She probably knows I wouldn’t do that unless there was no other alternative.”

“But why not?” Eve said. Her blue eyes flashed with anger as she stirred milk into her tea.

“Oh, Eve,” Olivia said resignedly, “you know why not. If I tried to keep Vivienne away from Thea, she’d make a world of trouble for me.” She drank some of her tea. “I just... Life can be hard enough. I can’t deal with constant stress and all the drama that comes with any conflict with my mother-in-law.”

“So you’re just going to ignore what she did today? Listen, why don’t I ask Austin to—”

“No! You’re not going to ask Austin to do anything. Matt said he’d take care of things...talk to his dad and to Chief Donnelly.”

“Yes, but that’s just today. What about tomorrow? What about next week? What about you? What if this vendetta against you escalates? She seems to be capable of anything!”

Olivia rubbed her forehead. “Eve, please. Can we talk about something else? I’m so tired of thinking about Vivienne.”

Eve looked as if she wanted to protest, but all she did was sigh and give Olivia a reluctant nod. “Okay. I’m sorry. I just...well, I hate this for you. After all you’ve been through, it sucks.”

“I know you worry about me, and I love you for it.” Olivia smiled at her cousin and thought about how grateful she was that Eve was here today.

“I want you to promise me something, though,” Eve said.

“What?” Olivia said warily.

“If she tries anything else, anything, you’ll call me immediately. Okay?”

Olivia shook her head. “Eve, what can you do about it? You’ll be a thousand miles or more away.”

“Just promise.”

“Oh, all right, I promise.”

“Good.” Eve’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not without resources, either, you know. As Queen Vivienne will soon find out if she messes with you again.”

On that note, the conversation turned to Olivia’s mother, then to what the cousins might feed their offspring...and themselves...for dinner. Soon Olivia was laughing and had managed to temporarily wipe Vivienne out of her mind.

But down deep, she knew Vivienne would always be a threat to her peaceful existence with her daughter.

And unfortunately, for now at least, there wasn’t a thing Olivia could do about it.

* * *

Matt decided golf game or no golf game, he would try to reach his father on his cell phone.

His dad answered almost immediately. “What is it, Matt? I’m playing golf.”

“I know that, Dad. Just wondered when you’d be finished.”

“I don’t know. Around five, I guess.”

“Can we meet for a drink before you go home? I need to talk to you.”

“Can’t you just come to the house?”

“No. I’ll explain later.”

Matt heard his father sigh. “Where do you want to meet?”

“How about The Grill?” He’d named a popular restaurant and bar near the golf course.

“I’ll call you when I finish here,” his father said.

“All right.”

Good, Matt thought as they hung up. He wanted to be the first to tell his father what had transpired today. Certainly before his mother got a chance to, since she would spin the story in her favor. Even so, Matt knew his father was too smart not to realize Vivienne’s stories were always spun in her favor.

Matt had tolerated the way his mother treated Olivia because he’d known any interference would only make Vivienne more vindictive toward her daughter-in-law. But today’s debacle had changed something in the way Matt saw things. Something had to be done before his mother escalated to something even worse than she’d done today. And the only way anything could be done was if he could somehow persuade his father to join him and unite against her.

Would his father go along with that?

Matt would just have to wait and see.

* * *

Vivienne was furious. How dare Matthew take that woman’s side against his own mother? The fact Olivia wasn’t fit to raise a Britton grandchild was indisputable—anyone with any sense could see it—especially after what had happened today. Yet Vivienne’s own son refused to see the truth. Vivienne gritted her teeth. She could just scream.

Matthew had always taken Olivia’s side, from the very beginning when Mark brought her home to meet them. Vivienne had seen through the girl immediately. A wannabe. Someone not fit to shine the shoes of her youngest son, let alone marry him. But neither Mark nor Matthew would listen to her. And now look where they all were. Her beautiful Mark was dead, struck down before he’d had any chance of showing the world how special he was. And her willful oldest son—who really couldn’t hold a candle to Mark—was still defending Olivia.

Well, Vivienne had warned him. And he’d ignored the warning. Matthew would be sorry. Very sorry. Did he really think he could get elected to the US House of Representatives without his parents’ support? If he did, he was going to be sorely disappointed, because it wasn’t possible. All Vivienne had to do was talk to a few people, drop a few hints that Matthew would not have his parents or his parents’ money behind him, and the race would be over before it ever began.

Did he think she wouldn’t oppose him? Ha. He had another think coming. She would not only oppose him, she would actively work to see he was defeated by openly and financially backing his opponent, whomever that turned out to be.

Not only that, she would make sure both her and Hugh’s wills were changed. They’d been changed once, right after Mark married that...woman...and they could be changed again. Would be changed again, because Hugh would do whatever she told him to do. He liked his easy, no-questions-asked life too much to buck her, not when she and she alone controlled the purse strings.

And...if Matthew changed paths and decided not to run for the House but instead to go for the district attorney’s slot when Carter Davis retired...well, Vivienne would have something to say about that, too. No one, absolutely no one, opposed Vivienne Marchand Britton and survived to tell about it.

* * *

It was exactly five fifteen when Matt’s cell rang.

“Matt?”

“Dad? You done?”

“Yes. I’ll be at The Grill in about fifteen minutes.”

“Okay. I’m leaving now, too.”

Matt pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant just before his dad’s Lexus. Getting out of his car, Matt walked over to meet his father.

At sixty-two years old, Hugh Britton looked a good ten years younger. Tall, tanned, still slender and fit, with a thick head of salt-and-pepper hair, he was the picture of health. Matt often wondered just how his dad had managed it, especially married to Matt’s mother. Then again, Matt knew how. Hugh took the path of least resistance. As long as he could live the way he wanted to live and Matt’s mother turned a blind eye to the other women Matt suspected his father of being involved with over the years, he didn’t seem to care what she did.

“What’s up, son?” Hugh said as they walked into the entrance to the bar side of the crowded place. “Problems with the campaign already?”

“No. Problems with Mom.”

His father frowned. “Matt, you know I try to stay out of—”

“This isn’t something you can ignore.”

His father pointedly looked at his watch. “I only have about twenty minutes.”

Matt waited until they were seated and had ordered their drinks before telling his father an abbreviated version of the story.

Hugh toyed with his drink. “Is Thea okay?”

“Thea’s fine. She didn’t even know anything was wrong.”

“Well, then—” Hugh shrugged. “All’s well that ends well.”

Matt stared at his father. “All’s well that ends well? Dad! Olivia was sick with worry. So was her family. And possibly a hundred other people, not to mention the police, were involved. This time, Mom’s gone too far.”

His father didn’t meet his eyes.

After a few seconds of silence, Matt said, “Don’t you think we need to do something? You know she won’t listen to me, but can’t you make Mom understand that she can’t continue this vendetta against Olivia? You know, if Olivia wanted to, she could get a court order barring both of you from even seeing Thea. Any judge, hearing about today’s incident, would be hard-pressed not to rule in Olivia’s favor if she decided to go that route.”

His father finally looked at him. “Would Olivia do that?”

“In her shoes, I would.”

“You haven’t suggested anything like that, have you?”

Matt shook his head. Not that he hadn’t felt like it.

His father sighed heavily. Drank more of his Scotch. Then turned worried eyes to Matt. “I just don’t know what you want me to do.”

“Confront Mom. Tell her you won’t stand for any more of this unfair treatment of Olivia.”

“Easier said than done,” his father muttered.

“C’mon, Dad. Can’t you at least try? Maybe if you tell her what could happen if she doesn’t stop this behavior, she’ll think twice next time she’s tempted to do anything else.”

His father still didn’t look at him. “I can’t promise anything, but I will try.” So saying, he finished off his drink and looked around for their waiter. “I need to get going. Your mother will be upset if I don’t get home soon. She said the Hoopers were coming for dinner, and I still have to shower and change.”

Matt said he’d settle the bill and watched as his father left. A few minutes later, as Matt left, too, he didn’t feel optimistic. Oh, he figured his father would try, but Matt could pretty much predict that his mother would roll right over Hugh and, ultimately, nothing would change.

* * *

Olivia and Eve and their children went to nine o’clock Mass at Saint Nick’s, the church where they’d both made their First Holy Communion and their Confirmation. It was also the church where Eve and Bill Kelly, her first husband and the man who had raised the twins as his own, had been married, and where the twins and Thea had been baptized.

After Mass, Eve and the twins left to meet Austin Crenshaw for breakfast, while Olivia and Thea headed to the activity center where coffee, juice and doughnuts were being served. Once they got there, Olivia looked for her mom and Eve’s mom.

“You know, honey,” Olivia’s mother said once they were all seated at one of the tables, “I’ve been thinking about what happened yesterday, and it really bothers me.”

Olivia shook her head in warning. “Little pitchers,” she said under her breath.

“I just think you should do something about it.”

“Mom...”

“Okay, fine. But let’s talk later.”

Olivia should have known her mother wouldn’t be content to drop the subject. And, as it turned out, neither was Eve. Later that day, after Olivia and Thea were back home and Eve and the twins had returned from their breakfast with Austin, Eve suggested they drop the children off at the local multiplex, where a new Disney film was showing. “We can sit in the food court while they’re seeing the movie,” she said, “have something to drink and be free to talk.”

Olivia wasn’t surprised to find Vivienne was the subject uppermost on Eve’s mind.

“I can’t go back to California unless I know you’re going to be okay,” she said once they were settled with Frappuccinos from Starbucks.

Olivia sighed. “Eve, please stop worrying. I can handle Vivienne. Haven’t I been handling her for years now?”

“Seems to me her campaign against you is escalating. What she did yesterday is atrocious. And both your mom and mine agree with me. That woman is out of control.”

“She does seem to be getting worse.”

“At least Matt is on your side,” Eve said. Then, shocking Olivia, she added, “You do know he’s in love with you?”

Olivia stared at her. “That...that’s crazy. He’s just a friend. He’s...he’s Mark’s brother!”

“So?” Eve said. “It’s not like he’s your brother.”

“You’re wrong,” Olivia insisted. “He doesn’t think of me that way.” But inside, she was trembling. Did he? Was it possible?

“I’m not wrong, and you’re blind. Actually, your mother agrees with me.”

“My mother? When did you talk to her about this?”

“Yesterday, before you arrived at the house. She said she’s been thinking this for a while now. My mother agreed.”

“No. It’s crazy.”

“Why is it crazy?”

“Because...it just is. He...he’s never acted like anything but my brother-in-law. Anyway, even if he was interested in me, in that way, it could never work out.”

“And why not?”

“You know why not. One word. Vivienne.”

Eve laughed. “Oh, Liv, think about it. It would be so perfect! I can’t even imagine the look on her face if you and Matt should—”

“Stop it!” Olivia said. “Just stop it. Matt is not in love with me.”

“Actually, I’d be surprised if he wasn’t in love with you. After all, you’re beautiful and smart and the two of you get along like a house afire. Plus, he adores Thea...”

Olivia scoffed. “Matt is around beautiful and accomplished women all the time. Much more beautiful and accomplished than me.” She couldn’t help but think of Jenna Forrester, a fellow attorney whom Matt had dated for nearly a year until their breakup in the summer. Jenna was gorgeous!

“Why are you constantly putting yourself down?” Eve persisted.

“I’m not. I’m...just being realistic.”

“Uh-huh, just like you were being realistic when you said Austin wasn’t interested in you. And you were totally wrong there, too.”

“What do you mean? Did you say something to Austin today? Eve, you promised you wouldn’t.”

“I promised I wouldn’t mention you were ready to date again. I did not promise I wouldn’t even mention your name.”

Olivia closed her eyes. What had Eve said?

Eve started to laugh. “Come on, Liv. It’s no big deal. I didn’t say anything other than telling him what happened at the festival.”

“You told him that?”

“Why not? It isn’t as if no one else knows. There must have been a hundred people involved in looking for Thea.”

“I know, but—”

“Don’t you want to know what he said?”

Olivia sighed. “What did he say?”

“He said if you have any more trouble with Vivienne—anything at all—to call him. He said he would be happy to represent you, if it ever came to that.”

“Why would he say that?”

“Why?” Eve said. “Because he’s a nice guy.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Did you somehow suggest I might take legal action against Vivienne?”

“Liv, you know I wouldn’t do that. It’s just that he’s a lawyer. That’s the way lawyers think.” Eve smiled. “He also asked if you were dating anyone.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him you hadn’t been, but I thought you might be ready.”

Olivia guessed she couldn’t be mad at Eve for that. But still, she felt uncomfortable.

“Don’t you want to know his reaction to that?”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Whether I do or not, I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“He asked me if I thought you’d go out with him.” Eve grinned. “See? I told you he was interested in you.”

Olivia wasn’t sure what to think. “And what did you say?”

“I told him I didn’t know, that he’d have to call you and find out on his own.”

Olivia had begun to feel as if everyone, Eve included, was pushing her in a direction she wasn’t sure she wanted to go. Unfortunately, she also didn’t know how to stop this momentum.

“What’s wrong now?” Eve said.

“Nothing.”

“Look, no one’s forcing you to do anything. If you don’t want to go out with Austin, just say no when he asks.”

Olivia bit her lip.

Eve frowned. “What?”

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling a bit pressured.”

Eve threw up her hands. “I don’t understand you, Liv. What’s the problem? Honestly, I don’t care if you go out with Austin...or anyone, for that matter. I just thought that’s what you wanted.”

She hadn’t said, make up your mind, but Olivia knew that’s what Eve thought. And actually, she’d have a right to feel that way. Because Olivia had been blowing hot and cold. Trouble was, she just wasn’t comfortable moving back into the world of dating. In fact, it scared the you-know-what out of her to even contemplate dating again.

She made a face. “I’m sorry, Eve. You’re right. And I’m not mad at you or anything. I guess I have to make up my mind what it is I really want right now.”

“Yeah, you do.”

Olivia took a deep breath. “And I will.”

“Good. And, Liv...”

“What?”

“Austin’s a good guy. You could do a lot worse.”

“I know.”

“But if you decide you’re not interested in him, it’s okay. I won’t be upset with you. Just...be nice. Let him down gently.”

“I promise I will.”

“Okay, good.” Eve looked at her watch. “And now I think it’s about time to go get our kiddos.”

As the cousins headed toward the theater, Olivia’s thoughts were all over the place, and she wasn’t sure about much. But one thing she was sure about was how her life was changing, whether she wanted it to or not.

Chapter Four

“Mommy?”

“Yes, sweetie?” Olivia finished tucking Thea into bed. Eve and the twins had left for home earlier, and Olivia had just finished giving Thea her bath.

“Nathan and Natalie have two daddies.” She pronounced Natalie’s name “Natlee.”

Gazing down into her daughter’s brown eyes, Olivia felt her heart swell with love. “I know.”

Thea’s forehead knitted in thought. “Why do they?”

Olivia sat on the side of the bed and took Thea’s hand. “I explained that to you, honey. It’s because their daddy Bill married someone else and now their mommy is married to their daddy Adam.” Olivia had decided this was the only explanation Thea could understand right now. When she got older, Olivia would explain the situation properly.

Thea thought about this for a few minutes, then said, “My daddy died.”

Olivia swallowed. “Yes, he did.”

“But he loved me a lot.”

“Yes, honey, he did. Your daddy loved you so much.”

“Mommy, tell me the story about my daddy.”

By now Olivia had to blink back tears, but she managed to keep it together and launch into the familiar story of the handsome daddy who was very brave and very strong and who had loved his little girl more than anyone else in the world. “And your daddy is now watching over you from Heaven,” she finished with a tender smile.

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