Page 22 of Love for a Lifetime

She wanted the chores. She wanted all the responsibilities that would distract her from the swirling turmoil in her middle, but she wasn’t going to fight him over it. He liked tending to his goats as much as she loved taking care of her chickens.

With a sigh, she looked around. “I guess I’ll head home.”

“Be careful. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Dawson said, still watching her for any signs of injury.

She backed out of the barn one slow step at a time. As soon as the twilight sky came into view, she covered her mouth with a hand. What was she doing? Any feelings for Dawson had to be shut down before they could bloom.

He wasn’t the one for her. He was meant to end up with someone sweeter–someone carefree and fun. He deserved a wife who would give him a family, instead of piles of medical bills for a condition that never left well enough alone.

Then there was Anna–the friend who hung half of her hopes and dreams on the man Olivia was sprinting away from as fast as she could.

Olivia broke into a jog, relishing the breeze that cooled her cheeks as she tore across her dad’s yard. When she reached her car, she slid inside and panted in the stillness of the cab.

The appointment with her doctor that started the downhill spiral of her week flashed to the forefront of her thoughts. The condition was approaching, whether she was ready to accept it or not. The doctor seemed to think another surgery was in her near future, and she’d known the awful truth before the doctor confirmed it.

Would it be another minor surgery this time? Or would she need a hysterectomy–the sure-fire way to kill any hopes of becoming a mother?

She still hadn’t figured out the logistics of disappearing during her recovery. Who would drive her to the hospital and back? Beau was the obvious choice, but he was already neck-deep in work at the garage.

Was she ready to let someone else in yet?

Not Lyric. She was planning a wedding and building a new family with the man she loved.

Not Anna. She wouldn’t be quiet about it, and Olivia clung to those rare moments when she could forget about the pain and the appointments and just be normal with her friend.

Not Dawson. He had a way of knowing something was wrong with her before anyone else suspected. He’d ask questions she didn’t want to answer. He would worry, even though there wasn’t anything to worry about. She would be fine, but Dawson wouldn’t believe her.

She didn’t want people to think of her health problem every time they saw her, and she didn’t want pity stares wherever she went. If no one knew, then she could go about her life and forget about it from time to time. She wanted to be more than a disease or a diagnosis.

No, her life had to be focused on the work she was doing. It was what the Lord had called her to do–be the helping hand that was always needed. Other people had worse problems. Those she could focus on.

She pulled out her phone and scanned the dozens of tasks on her to-do list. There was plenty to keep her distracted. This was the last time she had to think about an impending surgery before her next appointment.

Just the way she wanted it to stay.

6

DAWSON

Dawson wiped the sweat from his brow and went straight back to taking notes. Barry Denson was talking a mile a minute while pointing to the back entrance of his restaurant.

“We have precautions in place. This shouldn’t have happened.”

Firefighters moved like busy bees around the lot, and a handful of officers milled around. A couple of paramedics waited off to the side in case they were needed.

Barry’s jaw moved from side to side as he stared toward the still smoking remains of the kitchen. “We follow codes to the letter, even when it’s inconvenient.”

“I understand. The fire marshal will have more questions for you about that.” The insurance adjuster would be on Barry’s case in a hot minute too, but Dawson didn’t want to be the one to bring up that unpleasant fact.

Barry hung his head. The Rock had been a popular restaurant for locals and tourists alike since Dawson was in diapers. The place was Barry’s pride and joy.

Barry pushed a hand through his thinning gray hair. “I can’t believe this. We’ll be shut down for months.”

Dawson pocketed his notepad and slapped a hand down on Barry’s shoulder. “Don’t think about the bad. You know people around here are going to be lining up to help get this place back up and running. Where are we gonna watch the games on Saturdays?”

Barry shook his head, but a grin flashed on his face. “You’re right. I’m sure it won’t take long. The fire was contained to one part of the kitchen.”

Dawson added, “I bet Olivia Lawrence will set up a fundraiser as soon as she finds out.”

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