AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Nine
Olivia
“You’re such a life saver for me lately,” I said to Rea as she rushed past me with a sack of potatoes destined for the shelf. “Looking after Charlie while I’ve been getting to know Emmett has been super helpful. I haven’t had babysitters for him in the past.”
“That’s no problem at all. Charlie is such a cool kid. Millie has attached herself to him like glue.” She twisted up her lips. “I’m afraid I can’t say the same about Lucy . . ..”
“Ah, yes, I’ve got that vibe, too.” I wanted to ask her about the bossiness, but was reluctant to, given I hadn’t personally witnessed it. “Charlie seems to be having a tough time with her.”
Rea waved her hand casually. “Kids will be kids.”
“Right.” I began unpacking the oranges.
“So, how’s it going with this guy? Are you hitting it off? You didn’t say much when you came to pick up Charlie on Saturday.”
I felt a cheeky smile creep its way onto my face. “I think I was still processing everything, but it was a nice night.”
“I’m getting a vibe here that ‘nice’ is a huge understatement.”
I lifted my shoulders. “We went to a charity auction for his work, then I went back to his place and, uh . . . we got to know each other better.”
“I see.”
I felt a blush colour my cheeks. When I heard Rea laugh quietly, I felt like I was being humiliated. “What do you see?” I asked.
“I’m happy for you. I think you needed to get laid to help you lighten up a little.”
“Excuse me? That’s not what this is about.”
“Of course, it is. Don’t be ashamed, Olivia. Sex with a man like that should be celebrated.”
I threw an orange haphazardly onto the pile. “It is about far more than sex. This was not a hook up. I find it so difficult to open up to people, so please don’t make light of this.”
Rea came over to me and wrapped me up in a hug. “Oh, Olivia, I’m so sorry. Of course, this is a big step for you. I don’t know what happened in your past, but I have a feeling it was pretty rough for you to end up in this dump.”
As she hugged me, I noticed a guy in a dark jumper staring right at me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. I pulled away from her and forced myself to get back to the oranges. “I don’t like to talk about it.”
“I get that, and I respect it. But there must be something more you want to do with your life than stock grocery shelves and work a register?”
“Sure,” I muttered while I watched the strange man move through the fresh vegetable area.
“I flunked high school. I’m not brainy at all. I’ve got Matt for that. You, though? I bet you did great in school.”
She was right. I was a straight A-student with high scores in all of my subjects except for mathematics. My plan had been to take a gap year to come and visit my dad, and then go back home and become a nurse. Then I met Charlie’s father and Charlie came into our lives.
“What does how I did in school have to do with anything?”
“I know why I’m here. Why are you? You could do anything with your life.”
“You mean like raise a kid by myself?” I drew a deep breath and with it, my steely resolve. “There’s no use focusing on the past or wishful thinking about the future. I have a job that pays enough for me to keep a roof over our heads and food in our mouths. Nothing else matters.”
“Not even me?”
I gasped and turned around, expecting the creepy guy to be behind me. I was thankful to find Emmett standing there with an orange, a sandwich, and a bottle of water in his hands. “Hey there.”
I could barely contain my surprise. “Emmett, what are you doing here?”
“I’m on my way to a counselling session at the boys’ house and I needed to pick up some lunch. I didn’t realise this is where you work.”
