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 POVIt was hard to be home. Every year it got harder and harder to come home to an empty mansion.Coming home was supposed to be pleasant and relaxing. Instead, I spent the majority of my time staying busy and finalizing business deals in my office. I barely gave myself enough time to sleep before catching the next plane out. My eyes flitted from the papers I was reviewing at my desk to the piano in the room across the hall. The piano Olivia had played. I kept it in my line of sight when I was home, but all it did was bring back painful memories. Shaking my head, I returned to my paperwork. I had to get several deals wrapped up before I hit the road again. "M-Mister Peterson?" a soft voice asked at the door, knocking gently. I looked up, seeing one of my maids. She was blocking my view of the piano. "Come in," I said, motioning to her. She shyly looked at her feet, cheeks reddening, and then stepped into my office. "What can I do for you?""There's someone
**Olivia POVMy mom wanted me to play piano at an event she was hosting. It was a fundraiser for some of my father's favorite organizations. A way for all his friends to gather and wish him well. She even sent out invitations with a picture of me, like the brochures for theater productions I'd been doing in Europe. She had a big concert grand piano brought into the venue. While I played, my mom watched Ken. It felt good to play to a familiar crowd again. So many people came to see me. Old friends, extended family, people from organizations I'd worked with in college. I loved seeing the happiness and wonder in their eyes as they watched me play. My heart soared with every note. I played while the guests arrived. Some of them walked right into the big event hall while others stopped to listen. It took a long time for everyone to get there. I played Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. I went through all the classic symphonies and minuets. I took a break from playing when my
I stared at Ellis as he walked up beside me. He exuded the same confidence and charm I remembered. I heard flustered sighs go through the other women there as they stared at him. Dressed in a tailored burgundy suit with a black button-up, a cream-colored tie and pocket square, his smirk was both challenging and charming. He stopped right beside me and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. His smooth jaw, dark hair, and those sparkling eyes. If anything, he was even more handsome than when I'd left five years ago. My heart raced and my palms felt sweaty. I was completely captivated until Ken pulled away from me. "Ken!" I tried to grab him. He ignored me and ran right up to Ellis. Ken grabbed his pant leg and tugged. Ellis looked down at him and smiled fondly. There was too much familiarity between them. Had they met before, I wondered. "I hoped you'd come," Ken said with a wide eyed grin. My heart nearly stopped to see them together. I had imagined it so many times but n
"Well, well, Miss Richardson, it is good to see you again," Ellis purred when our eyes met. My stomach fluttered and I wanted to look anywhere else, but I couldn't pull away. He had me glued to the spot with his gaze. "Mr. Peterson," I said with a respectful nod. I kept my tone flat and indifferent. Ellis raised an eyebrow at me. "Is that all I get from you?" he asked, his lips tightening. "Is there something else you were expecting?" I asked back. I put my free hand on my hip, still holding tight to Ken's hand. Ellis chuckled and rose from the piano bench. He faced me directly, his eyes dark and dangerous. My heart pounded in my chest and in my ears. I glanced to the door. There was no way I could run in the heels I was wearing. "Don't we find ourselves in an interesting situation, then," he said, motioning to Ken. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said. I cast my eyes aside. Who was I kidding? Ellis already knew the truth. "Do you think it is fair to
After my mom went to bed, I checked on Ken and then headed to my own bedroom. Ellis was standing by the window, looking out at the city. I took a deep breath and closed the door behind me, wondering what he expected to happen. I could see how deep his eyes were as they looked out the window, the firm set of his jaw and his strong fingers as they gripped the curtains framing the window. My mind spun suddenly with all the memories of the nights we'd spent together. How nimble and quick his fingers had been in removing my clothing, and all the toys he had at his fingertips to bring me to higher levels of pleasure. Everything had been so sweet and perfect, until Ellis had ruined it with his betrayal, with his secret love for Nancy. I shuddered and looped my arms around my waist. That was the last thing I needed to be thinking of while we were sharing a room for the night. "Just to be clear, you're staying in here because it makes my mom happy and she needs some uplifting," I
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