Page 125 of Love for a Lifetime

“I love you too, Liv. I always will,” Anna whispered against Olivia’s hair.

A minute later, she lifted her head and wiped her tears. Thankfully, the other people in Sticky Sweet’s weren’t interested in their exchange.

Olivia wiped her face just as Dawson rounded the corner with a tray in his hands loaded down with a cheeseburger, fries, a milkshake, and one of Tracy’s fudge brownies.

He stopped when he saw her and flashed her the smile that always sent her heart racing. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Anna turned around, wiped her eyes, and laughed. “We can’t blame you for craving one of Tracy’s cheeseburgers.”

Beau walked around the corner and almost bumped his tray of food into Dawson’s back. “Hey, keep it movin’, man.” He noticed what the hold-up was all about and looked back and forth between Olivia and Anna as they wiped their teary faces. “What’d I miss?”

34

DAWSON

Dawson strolled around the sanctuary nervously fisting and flexing his hands. The Wednesday night church service had just ended, but most of the attendees were still in their seats.

Just waiting on the guest of honor.

His plan could go one of two ways.

Olivia would either be thrilled and thankful or disappointed and embarrassed.

The latter scenario made Dawson want to hurl. Hopefully, she’d see his good intentions.

You know what they say about good intentions.

Asa walked into the sanctuary followed by Lyric and his son, Jacob. Lyric gave Dawson a thumbs-up and mouthed, “She’s coming.”

Asa flipped to a blank page in the notebook Dawson had asked him to bring and clicked his pen. “Ready to get this party rollin’?”

“Did you bring the directory?” Dawson asked.

Asa held up the packet of papers stapled together on the left side. “Got it. Not sure how updated it is.”

“Let’s not mention that to Olivia or she’ll put it on her to-do list.”

“If her to-do list is as long as you say, she can’t add a single thing to it. There might be a riot at the end of the evening.”

“Nah. Many hands make light work, right?” At least that was the philosophy Dawson was banking this entire meeting on tonight.

The double doors at the church entrance opened, and two kids ran inside giggling, followed by a laughing and heaving Olivia. Her dark hair was down and flowing around her heart-shaped face.

But those eyes. Those beautiful eyes captured him, body and soul. They drew him to her, over and over, like a moth to a flame.

He’d known her for the better part of his life and loved her for almost as long. How many more years would he get to love her?

It would never be enough, but he’d settle for whatever the Lord allowed. He would cherish every moment and hold onto every second of happiness, storing them up like a kid collecting seashells on the beach.

When the kids ran into the waiting arms of their parents, Olivia spotted him at the front. Her head tilted slightly in confusion, but she gave him a small wave and took a seat beside Lauren.

In that moment, every jittery nerve in Dawson’s body calmed, responding to her presence like water rolling over hot coals–she cooled the fire inside him. He took his place behind the small podium from one of the classrooms while Asa stepped behind the pulpit.

Dawson clapped his hands and said, “Thanks for coming tonight. I know you’re all ready to start decorating the church for fall, and we’ll do that after this quick meeting.”

No one in the congregation batted an eye except Olivia, who was now looking around and whispering to Lauren.

“You all know that Olivia Lawrence does more work for this church and our community than one person should do alone. In case you haven’t heard the news this week, Olivia needs to have surgery soon. It’s supposed to be a minor surgery, but she will need to take some time to rest and recover for a few days after.”

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