Page 119 of Love for a Lifetime

“Our wedding. Isn’t that what we’re talking about?”

Laughter bubbled out of Olivia’s chest as she stepped back, pushing playfully against his chest. “Stop it. You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

Dawson pursued her and reached out for her hand as her footsteps quickened. When he missed her again, he picked up his pace.

“Then let’s iron out the details over dinner. I’m starving.”

Her feet barely touched the ground as she dodged his advance. She faked to the right before darting left, but he anticipated the move and folded her into his capturing arms.

Her high-pitched laugh split the air as he buried his face in the crook of her neck and kissed along the sensitive skin. She opened her eyes just as Anna walked around the side of the feed shed.

A hard kick hit Olivia in the chest as she scrambled out of Dawson’s grasp. What felt like a ten-ton weight fell in her gut.

The look on Anna’s face said she wasn’t faring any better. Her blonde hair was twisted back in a tight bun, and she wore a navy suit jacket and matching pencil skirt above nude heels.

“Anna, I–I thought you were still in Casper.”

Anna didn’t move. Her mouth didn’t even open as she stared at Olivia.

No, not like this. Anna wasn’t supposed to find out this way. Olivia and Dawson had spent a good portion of the afternoon going over what they would say to Anna when she got back in town.

Those plans had all been carefully-crafted words. Anna wasn’t meant to see one of the private moments that had become the only times when they could be themselves.

Anna wasn’t meant to see them so happy and in love.

Dawson took a step toward Anna, holding out a hand as if approaching a wild animal. “Anna, can we talk?”

His words seemed to spark the life back into Anna, breaking her stare from Olivia. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

There wasn’t any bite in her words, but they held so much hurt–hurt Anna was trying so desperately to disguise. She took a quick step back, then another before repeating, “I’m sorry.”

“Anna, please.” Olivia was begging, but she didn’t care. She’d crawl on her knees if Anna would stay.

Holding up a hand, Anna ducked her chin. “I’m sorry.” Then, she turned and ran back through the yard toward her car.

“Anna, stop!” Olivia broke into a sprint as she chased Anna, who could run in heels better than most women could run in sneakers.

Olivia caught up to Anna as she reached her car and opened the door. Grabbing it, Olivia held it open as she gasped for breath. “Please… wait,” she panted.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry,” Anna fired off the apologies and regrets faster than punches in a mixed martial arts match.

“Stop apologizing. I’m the one who needs to apologize. Please let me explain.”

Anna grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and stared out the windshield. Her chest heaved with deep swells with hiccups at the beginning of every inhale. “I need to go.”

There was no emotion in that robotic voice. No humanity or care or anger.

There was nothing behind the words, but they cut Olivia’s heart wide open. She’d been properly gutted and fried in the fire before Anna looked up at her.

“I need to go,” she repeated.

“Anna, please. Please just talk to me.”

“Get out of the way.”

The demand left no room for negotiation, and the stab in Anna’s words had Olivia stepping back.

Olivia covered her burning face with her hands as Anna slammed the door and backed up, slinging gravel as she peeled out of the driveway.

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