Jenny helped me stack up the final boxes. I looked around my apartment. It was completely empty now. I'd had most of the furniture put in storage until I could get to where I was going and have it all shipped to me. "Well, no turning back from here, at least for a while," Jenny concluded. "It is better this way, anyway," I said, putting a hand on my belly. I'd told Jenny everything about what happened with Ellis since he'd gotten stabbed right up to the conversation I'd overheard with Claire. "I'm going to miss you," Jenny said. She hugged me tightly. "I'll miss you too. But you'll come visit me and meet my baby," I said. "You know it," Jenny promised. We pulled apart and I sighed. "Will you keep me posted? Let me know when you leave and when you land." "I will," I promised. Jenny left me alone in the apartment to get my bags together. I had an early flight the next morning and I wanted to get everything together now so I could get a good night's sleep and not have
I stared at the plane as it raced down the runway and took off. Olivia was gone.My focus shifted to my reflection in the glass. My hair was a mess, sweat trickled down my face and my suit jacket was wrinkled. I looked as awful as I felt. I ran my hands through my hair and smoothed it back. I straightened my clothes and took a deep breath.I needed to find out where Olivia had gone.Returning to the service desk, I tried to talk to the agent again. "Can you tell me where the flight was going?" I asked."Do you have the flight number?" she asked me."No. I only know the terminal it left from," I said."I'm sorry, Sir, I can't look up a flight by terminal. I need the flight number," she said."It just left, less than ten minutes ago," I said, pointing towards the terminal. "You can't tell me which one just left?""The computer doesn't track by terminal number. It tracks by flight number," she explained. "I can't look up a flight destination on the computer without the flight number."Gro
**Oliva POVLights beamed at me in every direction. The echo of silence took over the auditorium. I was alone on stage with nothing but a concert grand piano. The audience was lost in the shadows behind the glare of the lights. They were silent, but I knew they were there. My fingers ran across the keys, the notes drawing from the piano and echoing around the auditorium. My foot moved back and forth across the pedals, making all the right exaggerations to the notes. Five years of secret heartache flowed through my fingers. While I played, nothing else mattered. Just me and the music and how it felt in my bones. I took a deep breath in, savoring the crescendo before the inevitable decline into the outro. I slammed the pedal to draw out the final notes and then I let the music fade once again into silence. The audience exploded with cheers and clapping. My heart hammered with bittersweet excitement, and I smiled, standing up and stepping to the edge of the stage. Roses and bou
He motioned for me to follow him and I did. Walking next to him I leaned into the comfort of his easy stride and relaxed manner. We headed to the business office he kept on sight. He sat down at the large, mahogany desk and I sat across from him. Bennett looked so regal, like a prince or a king, in his chair. He was strong, intelligent, and he had been good to me. "You know I admire your talent as a pianist," Bennett began. "It has been a dream, playing in your orchestra," I admitted. I crossed my legs and hooked my hands around my knees. "I want to bump Nina back and let you headline solos primarily," he offered.I lit up and met his eyes. My cheeks burned under the intensity of his smoldering gaze. He was so smooth, his hair slicked back, his suit perfectly tailored. "That would be a dream come true," I said. Then I looked away. "Then what's the problem?" he asked with a chuckle. "I don't want to cause any more problems with Nina," I said with a troubled sig
Ken started to fuss as I packed up from rehearsal to head home. The session ran more than an hour over and his little head was already bobbing up and down. I didn't like carrying him long distances but I scooped him up and walked as quickly as I could from the building to our car. Ken mumbled a little and continued to fuss as I packed him into his booster seat. I kissed his forehead and closed the car door. Something near my front tire caught my eye. I went over and knelt down to see what was there. A crumpled piece of paper. I picked it up and was getting ready to unfold it when something slammed into me from behind. Grunting, I pitched forward, slamming into my car. The wind left my lungs and every time I tried to breathe, my chest heaved and spasmed. "Wh-wh…" I couldn't talk. My voice was hoarse and no air would come out. "You really think you're better than me?" Nina's nasally voice asked. She shoved me again.I braced my hands against the car and turned around. I
I wanted to ignore the call that came in just after I got Ken tucked back into bed. But, very few people had my current cell phone number. I checked the caller ID and saw that it was my mom calling. I hadn't heard from her in a while. "Mom?" I whispered, my breath coming in short bursts. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Olivia, it is so good to hear your voice," my mom said. Her voice trembled and I could tell she had been crying. "What's wrong, Mom?" I asked, chewing my lip nervously."Oh honey… I was just missing you and wondering how you've been," she replied, but there was a hitch in her voice. I stepped out of Ken's room and shut the door almost all the way. He liked when I left it open a crack. "Well, I started playing my own solo at the Klein Theater," I began. I could tell in her voice that there was something really bothering her but she was having a hard time saying what it was. I carried the phone to my room and sat on my bed. "It's going really well.""That's gr
Ken walked beside me as we got off the plane wearing a cartoon backpack and pulling his own little roller suitcase. He was growing up much too fast for my liking. We went to the entryway of the airport where my mom said she'd have a driver waiting for us. She couldn't leave my dad. I looked around for someone holding a "Richardson" sign but there wasn't anyone there. While we waited, I noticed several men looking at me, eyeing me up and down as they walked by. Sometimes I'd get a wink or a smirk. I'd learned how to tune those out and not react. Ken, on the other hand, seemed upset by it. He glared at the men passing by. "Don't look at my mom!" he hissed at a few of them. As soon as they were called out, my onlookers would look away quickly and hurry off. "You're growing into a young man," I told Ken as he tried to protect me. He looked up at me with starry eyes. "I'll protect you until you find me a good daddy. Then he will protect us both," Ken said, laughing a li
**Ken POV"Okay Ken, look both ways," my mom reminded me before we crossed the street to get to the waiting car and driver. My eyes took in all of the people and things around me. I was so excited! Coming from Austria to America was an adventure, like being in the movies. But, my mom was frowning. My mom was sad. I could see it all the time but she looked even more sad now. Her eyes were puffy and red. She didn't look happy at all. Mom's smile was magic. It made everything better. I hated when she frowned. She should always be happy with no sadness ever because she was the best mom ever. I knew she was sad because of my dad, he was missing. I didn't know what happened to my dad or even what his name was or what he looked like. But, I guess she was looking for a new dad because she kept asking me about boring Bennett this and boring Bennett that.I knew that if she could find a new dad for me, she wouldn't be so sad. All my friends from daycare had moms and dads. Their dads
Ellis POVI sat in the executive chair in the office, getting work done as well as I could under the circumstances. Even with the new legal troubles, some things never changed. “And tell them if they don’t they will have to answer to me,” I said. “Got it,” my project manager, William, said, looking a little shaken. Handling contractors came with the job, and was mostly a matter of patience, and being commanding. Much the same as handling a child having a tantrum. I relaxed a little as the call went away, taking more of the immediate problems with it. There were other problems hanging over my head that I didn’t like to think about. A little annoyed and very tired I loosen my tie, which had come to feel like a noose. After the house arrest, theoretical as it might have been, I hardly wore one anymore.I felt Olivia’s absence in my chest, like a weight. One I tried to lighten with another drink. Sipping lightly from the tumbler of rum, careful not to get drunk. I wanted to be alert
**Olivia POVI woke up still groggy, the world going from a dark blur to a light blur. Everything that had happened slowly rearranged itself in my mind.Pain came back along with the memories, if in a reduced form. With a wince, my head turned just right, and I saw Ellis seated by the bed, where he’d always been before getting arrested and would always be if I had anything to say about it.Ellis looked troubled, something I rarely saw. He was always so capable and in control of himself if not the situation. I reached out to him instinctively, and Ellis took it tenderly.“Can you be here?”“Of course,” he said.“No, I mean your house arrest.”“That is taken care of. Even if it wasn’t, I think this counts as compassionate grounds.”I relaxed a little, letting out a breath. Then I remembered what happened with the baby.“How is she?” I asked.He squeezed my hand, letting me know something was wrong, no matter what he might say.“She will be fine,” he said, “I’ll take you to the NICU to se
**Olivia POVI’d always heard bad things about hospital food. Fortunately, this proved not to be true. Everything Amber brought was great. I started to feel stronger just from the diet alone.If it wasn’t for hospital policy, I probably could have walked on our twice daily outings onto the hospital grounds. The baby seemed better too, moving even more than before.I started to suspect Nurse Anderson might have cooked the meals at home and smuggled them onto the hospital plates.I was near the end of my bacon and eggs, when a familiar face peeked in through the door.“Mom!?” I asked, more delighted to see her than I had words to say.“Hey, baby.”Mom came over and gave me a kiss on the cheek, like she used to do when I was little and feeling sick.“Me or her?” I asked, patting my belly.“Both of you, really,” mom said with a rare smile.Mom put her hand on my belly and felt it as the baby moved again.“Hello, little one, it’s Grandma.”I was surprised to hear her use the term. Something
**Ellis POVI paced the hallway, resisting the urge to hit something. The control I showed in most situations was carefully built up over years. There were times I worried about Ken and his potential impulse control. Then again his mother was so patient and gentle, except when truly riled, it could be her genetics that might win out. I went to the door again, just to see if I could hear what was being said. The wood was too thick and all I could hear was muffled hums. “You know you could just go in right? You’re on the list.”Spinning on my heel, resisting the urge to yell in fright, I saw Nurse Anderson with a food tray. “I can’t actually.”“Why? Is the door locked?” she asked, testing the knob. “Yes, but that is not the biggest problem.” “Oh, how so?” Nurse Anderson asked. “It was locked from the inside,” I said.“Yes, that is how it works.” “By someone else, on purpose I mean.” “Who?” “Some Fed, I think he said his name was Smiley.” “Agent Smiley?” Nurse An
**Olivia POV Ken came out of nowhere. The only warning of his arrival, an excited shout echoed down the hall. He still hadn’t got the hang of his ‘inside voice.’ Like a shot he was in the room, shattering the quiet solitude. I couldn’t have been happier. Kevin was more subtle, coming in behind and waiting to be beckoned before coming forward. There was something about hospitals that made him less than comfortable. “Mommy,” Ken cried, up on the bed like a shot. “Hey, baby,” I said, as he took me in a near-choking hug. “Hi,” Kevin said, quietly, keeping his wheelchair near the door.. “Get over here,” I said. Kevin came up beside the bed, not needing to be told twice. From my bed I hugged Ken and held Kevin’s hand tightly, tears started to roll with little choice. “Mommy?” Ken asked. “Happy tears, baby,” I said. “Oh.” The room felt smaller all of the sudden and all I wanted to do was go outside with my boys. Pressing the button to page her, Amber appeared in no
**Olivia POV Day came again even as I was sitting on the plane back to New York. It had been a dream, and Ellis was still there, looking deeply worried. “How are you doing?” he asked with a smile that once melted me. “Fine and only getting better. As soon as the doctor gives me the all clear I’m going home with Ken.” “Ken is at home,” Ellis said. “Not your home, my home,” I said. I could see the words cut deep, and almost felt sorry for him. Second thoughts were just coming up when the doctor came in, his expression grim.I instinctively reached for Ellis’s hand. Bad news no doubt on the horizon. “It can’t be that bad,” Ellis and I blurted at once. “It can actually,” the doctor said, looking at the chart. “How so?” Ellis butted in. It didn’t really concern him anymore, but he was the sort to think he needed to be the center of attention in any situation. He must have been a joy at funerals. “You are severely dehydrated, Mrs. Peterson. The amniotic fluid is mu
**Ellis POVI held her hand in the back of the ambulance, never letting her go again if I had anything to do about it. I had gotten far too close to losing her. “We’ll be there soon,” I said, minding the volume. She flinched at the smallest noise if it was unexpected. God only knew what the sick f*cks had done to her, and it was best not to think about it. Anytime I did, the urge to kill them rose. I didn't want to kill Carl, no matter how much of a f*ck up he was.No matter what he did he was still my son. People like us had other ways to deal with our kids when they got off the track. Military service was one popular option, as well as “career opportunities” in another country. Olivia stayed silent, her head lolling to the left before she closed her eyes. “Everyone is excited to see you again,’ I tried, “especially Ken and Kevin.”Olivia winched at the mention of their names. It was probably a touchy subject, after she’d been away for so long, not sure if she’d ever get ba
**Olivia POV“How are you doing, honey?” I asked, rubbing my belly. The baby didn’t move, but she could have been asleep. Apparently, they did that a lot. Resting up for the rest of their life. Bethany and Carl were down there for a few hours. Mostly quiet but with the occasional argument. Things shifted and I heard steps coming towards the attic. I held my breath hoping everything would be okay. I wasn’t sure I’d done the lock up right, and hoped they wouldn’t notice if they came back. It would be an obvious sign of what I’d done, and the punishment could be awful. There was no telling what Bethany might do. She could be merciful and just break my ankles. Or my wrists, to stop me from getting the lock picked again. It would make Ellis really mad, but it didn’t sound like they were planning to stay around, after everything. The clock clicked open, making me flinch and the baby move. I nearly cried to feel her again but had to hold it together. If we were going to get out of
**Olivia POVI felt a thrilling chill run over my body and the baby moved in response, celebrating in my womb. The door was open and we were close to freedom. I rubbed my belly, calming her down. I would need all my focus for the next part. Carl and Bethany could have been back at any time, and I had to be gone before then if there was going to be any chance of getting back to the boys and Ellis tonight. I cracked the door open slowly and I listened to the deafening silence. All was dark but I could just make out the staircase below the door. There was no light from below, so I had to try to get down blind. A little at a time, always sure to hold something, down I climbed. Getting one foot down on the stairs and then the other. Holding the sides of the steps in a death-grip, I finally reached solid ground. The floorboards down below creaking like the ones up above. There was another door at the base of the steps and my heart sank to think that I might have to work to pick another l