Where is Kelse and Sarah? Are they missing or just somewhere having fun in the mall? Read on to find out. And maybe leave a comment as to how you like the book so far. <3 <3 <3
_____________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~."She dropped her phone?" It very well could have been just that but all of a sudden dread filled the pit of my stomach.Jackson looked at the phone in his hand, his eyes widening as he seemed to realize something. "Or she didn't want to be found." He said, his voice low.I smacked him on his arm. "Shut up and stop spewing shit about my best friend."He looked at me with those puppy eyes that I used to melt in. "Olivia, I'm just saying-""There is more chance of them getting kidnapped than my best friend taking off intentionally with my daughter," I told him, my words faltering at the end of the sentence when I understood the fear in the pit of my stomach - were they kidnapped?"Who would kidnap them?" Jackson asked. "It's not like anyone knows that Kelsey is my daughter." I wanted to smack him again but had to rein in my temper. "One, she is not your daughter. And two, the colossal ego on you! She is Daniel Smith's only granddaughter. And
______________________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~."We are still very much married."My jaw dropped.The world around me seemed to spin, and for a moment, I felt like I might pass out.And I almost did.Jackson's hands shot out to steady me, but I stepped away from him, my body trembling with rage. "How could you?" I whispered."I wanted to tell you," he began, but I didn't let him finish."You had five years, Jackson!" I yelled, my voice causing a few of the mall-goers to turn their attention to us, but I did not care. I couldn't care less about their reaction when I had been hit with two of the biggest horrors of my life at once. "Five years to tell me that we were never really divorced!"Jackson looked at me with pleading eyes, but I was not in the mood to hear his bullshit. "You knew!" I accused him. "You knew and you did not say anything!""Liv-""Don't you dare!" I cut him off, my voice echoing through the mall. "You don't get to call me that. Not after what you've done. And
_________________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.Something was amiss.Jackson had been too calm. Too... rehearsed.The Jackson I once thought I knew was anything but calm when it came to his family. Maybe it was because we were not his family, but the way he acted with Kelsey was sending mixed signals. The thought niggled at the back of my mind as I watched him from the car. He walked out of the bank with a duffel bag that was probably stuffed with money. The transaction was simple, but the situation was anything but."Ready?" He asked as he got in and tossed the bad into the backseat.I squared my shoulders and nodded. "As I will ever be."Jackson's eyes stayed on my face for a whole minute even though I refused to look at him before he started the car.The drive to the park was silent, tension crackling in the closed atmosphere of the vehicle. The GPS giving the directions did not help at all.My forehead wrinkled.Of course, he didn't know around the place. He was on the other si
_________________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.I did not say a word on the way back home.Should I have told Jackson that Kelsey knew?My mind was racing with a hundred thoughts as we drove back home. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity.But when we reached the parking lot, I felt as if we had reached too fast - that I did not get the time to prepare myself for what was to come.Jackson parked the car and turned to look at me with wariness in his eyes. "Why are you not happy?" He asked.I ignored him and stepped out of the car, my legs feeling like jelly. "We need to talk." I said, walking towards the elevator."What is it?" He asked as he followed me. "I know you are mad. I know you blame me for what happened. But I swear, if I knew something like this was going to happen, then I would have been much more careful than this." I jabbed on the call button of the elevator and then turned to face him with a glare on my face. "Oh, so you do admit that you could have more car
_________________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~."Oomph!" I tripped backward by the momentum with which my monkey charged onto me as soon as the door of the elevator opened. I would have fallen flat on my butt with her in my arms if it was not for Jackson who caught me from behind, his hands landing straight on my breasts again. I looked up and glared at him as he steadied me and he immediately retreated his hand. Good choice, mate, good choice. I bent down and quickly picked my daughter up, peppering kisses all over her face as I wrapped my arms tight around her while carrying her out of the metal box. "Are you okay?" I asked her.Kelsey nodded her head vigorously, her eyes wide. "I'm fine, Mommy. The misters were nice. They said they had to go on a trip and couldn't play with us anymore. That's why they brought us home."She looked over my shoulder at Jackson."Daddy!" She grinned at him. I stiffened as I turned around to face him.Jackson's eyes lit up as he took a tentative st
____________ ...~ ~ ~ J A C K S O N ~ ~ ~.I had lunch with my daughter, my wife and her annoying friend and then continued to stay with my kid till late afternoon.And then unceremoniously, Sarah Hopkins kicked me out while Kelsey was taking a nap.I smirked as I turned off my car.How long was Hopkins even going to be here?She was going to be gone today or tomorrow and then I will have my girls all to myself. And then, it will be easier for me to have Livy where I wanted her.I got out of the car and passed the keys to the valet, strolling towards the elevator with a bounce to my step. My daughter knew who I was. And Olivia knew that she could not fight me now. Everything had just gotten ten times easier in just a couple of hours. Reaching the hotel room, I was not surprised to find William at the bar. The man had not left the hotel suite since we had gotten here. "Someone looks happy." William raised a brow as he took a sip of his whiskey. "Olivia went down and gave you h
_____________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~."How about this?" Kelsey stepped out of her closet wearing a tie dye t-shirt and a purple tutu."Seven out of ten." Sarah said after pretending to inspect the outfit for a moment.I couldn't help but laugh at the expression on my daughter's face. She looked absolutely confused and adorable. "Why not ten?" She asked pouting."Because, my little fashionista, we need something that will make you shine brighter than a star in the sky!" She exclaimed, kneeling down to her level. "Let's keep looking, okay?"Kelsey nodded and disappeared back into the closet, her giggles echoing around the room.Sarah turned to me with a knowing look, her smile disappearing as soon as Kelsey was out of sight. "You okay?""I will be." I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's just...I can't believe he's back in our lives like this."Sarah nodded solemnly. "I know it's a lot to take in, but we're in this together, Liv. Whatever happens, I'm here for you and Ke
_____________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.William smirked, looking over at a confused Jackson - or pretending to be confused Jackson - and back at me. "Your husband has been keeping detailed tabs on you since the day you left."I turned to Jackson with a glare on my face."Husband?" Kelsey grabbed my attention with her big confused eyes. "Mommy, you are married? To who?"I looked at her, my heart racing. This was definitely not the time or the place to have this conversation. "We're not married, Kelsey. Not anymore.""But who is your husband?" Kelsey asked. She looked around at Jackson. "Is Daddy your husband?"Jackson cleared his throat, looking at me with a mix of hope and hesitation. "Well, technically, we're still married, Kelsey," he began."But that's not what we are here to talk about, sweetheart," I interjected quickly, cutting him off. "We're here to have a nice dinner and enjoy each other's company, remember?"Kelsey looked back and forth between us, clearly confused by t
___________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~ ."That's not it."It took everything in me not to throw the foam packing on my monkey and her Daddy."We are trying!" Kelsey whined as she pretended to read the instruction manual for assembling the indoor kennel.Jackson had the tip of his tongue poking out from the side of his lips as he screwed two segments together completely wrong.I sighed frustratedly, Pickles looking up from my lap and then back at the mess that the two were creating."Why don't you both take a break?" I asked. "Have some of the caramel toffee muffins that Ms. Jenkins dropped off and some orange juice from the fridge. Meanwhile, I will just take a look at your handiwork-""No!" Jackson and Kelsey yelled at the same time, each holding a hand up."Why not?" I asked."Everyone knows you are good at this thing, Liv." I still had to get used to him casually calling him Liv again. I wanted to tell him that we had not reached that stage yet but since I had agreed to give th
___________________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.I walked into the greenness of the place, the serene sound of the fountain in the corner reaching my years.It was as beautiful as I remembered it.I turned to face Jackson. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"He took a deep breath, his gaze roaming over my face. "I know it's a lot to ask, Olivia, but I am asking to give me another chance."I opened my mouth to disagree immediately but he cut me off with his hand up in the air. "I am not asking you to forgive me. I know that it is not possible for anyone to forgive so easily after what I have done, especially when all I have done is say I am sorry verbally and never did anything to prove that I am sorry through my actions."He took another step closer, his eyes boring into mine. "But I want to be that person now. I want to be the person who shows you, every single day that I am sorry. That I regret everything that happened between us.""Jackson, I-"He cut me off again. "And I
_____________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~."Mommy!" The sound of Kelsey's excited voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She was standing in the doorway of my room, her eyes wide with excitement. "Daddy's here!"Jackson?I looked at the huge clock on the wall.It was seven in the morning. What was he doing here this early?I quickly straightened my pajamas and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "What do you mean, Daddy's here?""He's downstairs with Uncle Will!" Kelsey exclaimed, bouncing on her toes. "They brought presents. Santa messed up the orders and dropped some of my presents there!"I blinked, trying to make sense of her words through the fog of sleep. "What are you talking about?""Daddy's downstairs," she repeated, her tone impatient."Why?""It's Christmas, Mommy!"I couldn't believe I had forgotten. It had been so chaotic with the funeral and the aftermath that the holiday had slipped my mind entirely.But as I saw the excitement in Kelsey's eyes, I knew I had to play along."O
_______________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.Elena.Jackson's first love.I felt all the pain that I had tucked away in the corner of my heart rush back in full force at the sight of Jackson's first love."Mind your language or I will forget that this is a funeral."Elena raised an eyebrow at me. "You think you can scare me?"I looked at her with a deadpan expression. "I'm not trying to scare you, Elena. I'm just stating the fact that this is a funeral. A place for mourning, not for drama."Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer to me. "Don't you dare act all high and mighty! You're just the desperate bitch he settled for because he couldn't have me."I felt my hands clench into fists at my sides. "This isn't the place for this. If you have anything to say to me, say it later."Elena smirked. "Oh, I'll save it for when he realizes his mistake and comes back to me, with his tail between his legs."I raised a brow.So they were really not together?And Jackson had initiated the
________________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~."I am making this more difficult for you, aren't I?" Jackson asked after dinner with my parents.Kelsey had fallen asleep in my father's arms and he had insisted that we stay for the night.And Jackson had refused to leave, going as far as to threaten to wake Kelsey up if he didn't get to stay.And then he had the audacity to ask me if he was making the situation harder for me.No shit, Sherlock!"Jackson," I hissed, my eyes flashing as I turned around to face him. "You have no idea."I was in the balcony, drinking a cup of chamomile tea. It helped me sleep. I needed it especially after he appeared back in my life."Olivia, we need to talk." I didn't know why he had followed me outside.All I knew was that I really did not want to talk to him now, or ever. But I needed to say this one thing."You are an absolute piece of shit, you know that?" I asked."I know." He made no attempt to defend himself."Do you even know why I am saying this
________________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.Kelsey asked me why we were not riding with her Daddy on the way to my parent's house.My Dad was not at all happy to hear that but he kept quiet for the sake of his granddaughter.Jackson followed us in his car.I wondered why he was doing it.Could he not just go to his place? What was the need for coming to a place where even the lawn weed hated him?"Mommy, why is Grandpa mad?" Kelsey looked at me, her voice filled with innocent curiosity."He's not mad, sweetie," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "He just has a lot on his mind.""I am mad." My Dad mumbled.I gave him a flat look.Did I really need to verbally remind him that I already had a four-year-old to deal with?Did he have to be stubborn and make things more difficult for me than it already was?"See!" Kelsey pointed out. "I told you Grandpa was mad.""Grandpa won't be mad anymore after I talk to him, monkey. It's grown-up things. You are just a baby. You won't understa
_____________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.The scent of home was something else.It was true that I had uprooted my life and moved across the country, that this was not home to my daughter.But it was where I had grown up, where I had met Jackson, where I had gotten married, where I had fell in love, and where I had felt the most pain.It was a homecoming I was not sure I was ready for.As the plane touched down, my stomach churned with a mix of anxiety and nostalgia.Home.There were two cars waiting for us on the tarmac."Grandpa!" Kelsey yelled as soon as she sighted my father."Dad?" I was confused.I had told my mother that we would talk about where we were staying. Why was he here when we hadn't had that talk yet?Jackson looked over at me. "You didn't tell me Daniel was coming.""He didn't tell me either." I sighed.Jackson took Kelsey's hand and led her down the steps of the plane while I took a moment to compose myself.My father, Daniel Smith, was a man of few words. But h
____________ ...~ ~ ~ J A C K S O N ~ ~ ~."That's not enough, Mommy. Kiss Daddy better." Kelsey demanded.I raised a brow at my daughter's demand.Kiss Daddy better?I really liked that idea."No need for that, monkey." I pretended to be the good guy. "Daddy is not sad. Mommy is right about Daddy not knowing how to tie your hair anyway."Olivia shot me a look that could have frozen the Sahara desert."Kelsey," she said firmly. "Mommy and Daddy are just friends now. No more of that, okay?"I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smirking - try selling that to our daughter, wifey.Come on Kelse, show her whose daughter you are! Get what you want from her!"Mommy!" The stubborn pout was on. "We are not going anywhere until you kiss Daddy."Olivia's eyes shot to me, a silent plea for help.But I was enjoying this too much."Okay, okay, Kelsey," I said, stepping closer to Olivia, my hand on her shoulder. "I guess I can get a kiss from your Mommy for doing a good job on the bu
_____________...~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~.Jackson had texted me earlier in the morning saying that he would pick up us.I was still doing some last-minute packing.Jackson had said that he would take care of accommodation when we got there. But I could always stay at Sarah's.I did not want to stay with my parents.I had not even told them that we were coming, or that Jackson was back in our lives, or that he had dropped the bomb on the status of our marriage.But I knew that I had to.The last thing I wanted was to cause more drama, especially for Kelsey.So, I took a deep breath and picked up the phone to call my mom.Cassandra Smith had not changed one bit in the last five years - she was still the charming socialite and host and overbearing mother, who was never satisfied with what I did.The phone rang for the longest time before she picked up. Knowing that my mother was attached to her hand device like a second skin, I could imagine she was in the company of someone else. And