Page 108 of Love in Fine Print

She’d apologized four times while she was signing her discharge papers. Four times while the nurse wheeled her down to the patient drop-off and pickup area. And three times while I was getting her into the car.

“It’s fine,” I assured her. Again. “I told you we can talk about it later.”

The information I’d just learned should have come as a shock to me, but somehow, it just made sense. It explained why my dad stopped being a dad. I wasn’t sure why he hadn’t allowed my Gran to adopt me, maybe it was because he didn’t want to be legally responsible for me and kept hoping my mom would come back and take me. But after she died when I was thirteen, I guess it was sort of a moot point.

Finding out he wasn’t my biological father actually made me feel better. It was strange, but I sort of felt sorry for my dad. My mom left when he was twenty-four. What twenty-four-year-old would know how to handle that?

“It’s not fine. It’s a lot to take in.”

“It is fine. I promise. Honestly, I’m not upset.” I sliced my gaze to her and saw her lids flutter open.

She sighed. “I think you’re just in shock.”

“Or I’m just extremely well adjusted.” I grinned.

A honk sounded behind us and I looked up to see the light had turned green.

“Let’s just get you home,” I said as I pulled away.

Home. That’s where we were going. And it actually felt like a home. My home. Our home.

I wasn’t sure when the transition had happened, but sometime over the past few months, Gran’s house had become our home. I kept reminding myself that this situation was temporary, but for some reason, knowing that intellectually was not translating to knowing it emotionally.

Olivia closed her eyes again and remained quiet for the rest of the drive.

“Wait there,” I instructed as I put the truck in park and turned it off.

She didn’t argue. I hopped out, and by the time I made it to the passenger side, she’d already taken off her seatbelt and opened the door.

“I told you to wait.”

“I did,” she contended as I helped her out of the truck.

When her feet touched the ground, I noticed her knees buckle slightly. That was all I needed to see before I scooped her up into my arms. Her arms instantly wrapped around my neck as I did.

“I can walk,” she protested weakly.

I ignored her and carried her up the steps. When I got to the top, Miss B appeared at her doorway with Dolly at her side.

“She heard the truck,” Miss B explained as Dolly bounded across the yard toward us.

“Thanks for keeping her,” I called out as I managed to unlock the front door while Olivia lifted her head to see Dolly.

“No problem. You kids let me know if you need anything. I’m just next door.”

“Thanks, Miss B,” Olivia’s voice was small.

“Thank you, we will,” I shouted as I walked through the front door carrying my wife.

When I got inside and shut the door behind me, I stilled as Dolly circled my feet.

Olivia lifted her head. “What?”

“I didn’t get to do this at the house or the hotel room.” I wasn’t sure why that was significant to me, but it felt significant. “Do you want to go upstairs or do you want to go to the cou?—”

“Shower. I need a shower.”

“What about a bath?” I asked, thinking it would be better if she was lying down instead of trying to stand.

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