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“No, I’m choosing to put my family before a boyfriend.”
“He could be more. What if he’s your only chance at finding love?”
“If he’s the right one, he can wait a few days.”
“No,” Fiona announces in a stubborn tone I know well. She wiggles free from my embrace and uses the wall to stand. “We need to get ready so you can leave on time.”
I’m numb as I explain to Olive to check on Fiona regularly.
“You can’t just leave her in here,” I say with too much tart to my tone. “If she falls, she might not be able to call for help.”
“I understand,” Olive replies, shrinking a little under my irritation.
“I’m worried about leaving her.”
“I understand that, too.”
Glancing at where Fiona settles into her bedroom chair, I feel tears burning behind my eyes.
“I haven’t been away from her overnight in over twelve years. I need you to send me hourly updates, even if it’s just a thumbs-up. I don’t think I can stay sane otherwise.”
Olive doesn’t look at me like I’m crazy despite me sounding that way.
“I was the same way with my daughter when she was little. I don’t know Fiona yet, but I see how you are together. I’ll do what I can to make tonight go as smoothly as possible.”
Exhaling uneasily, I get my emotions back under control.
“I’m not usually such a drama queen,” I explain, feeling awkward over revealing my heart to a stranger.
“We all get that way when we’re stressed. No judgment.”
Nodding, I study her. “If anyone from the Rogers family shows up, contact me immediately. Even if they’re friendly, assume the worst.”
I realize I’m being overly negative and getting her back up. Leaving Olive, I enter Fiona’s suite where she watches “Lilies in the Field.”
“I need a happy movie,” she says as I stroke her cheek. “Is the screen dark enough?”
“All the settings are right. You can open your eyes without feeling overwhelmed.”
Fiona nods, yet her eyes remain closed. She pauses the movie and follows me around while I get ready to go.
“You look beautiful,” she says when I hug her goodbye. “Your breasts seem bigger.”
“It’s just the bra,” I reply, chuckling at her frown.
Fiona hugs me again and then backs away. “You need to go before I cry.”
“Don’t be scared.”
“The world is changing, and I couldn’t even handle the old version. But go before I make you worry.”
I stare at her in the way I would with Owen when he didn’t want to be left behind with Steve or his grandparents. I would only be going shopping. He knew I’d be back, yet he’d always cry. Every single time, I’d feel guilty and hesitate. I couldn’t just walk away from my sobbing baby.
Right now, I’m paralyzed in the same way. The only thing that gets my rear in motion is a text from Eagle saying he’s on his way over with an SUV.
“Don’t worry about bringing your PJs,” he adds. “You can sleep in my shirts.”
Grinning at the thought, I finally pry myself away from Fiona and out the door. One of Todd’s goons arrives as soon as I step outside to drive me to the front gates in a low-speed vehicle.
