Page 116 of Love in Fine Print

“Olivia mentioned that.” It wasn’t my place to judge, but it did seem strange that Olivia’s mom couldn’t make it to her only child’s wedding. Maybe she just didn’t take weddings that seriously since she’d had thirteen of them.

She looked around the office. “So you’re a matchmaker?”

“I inherited the business from my grandmother.”

“And before that, you played football?”

“I did.”

She chuckled. “It must be quite the change.”

“It is,” I laughed, nervously, not sure what we were laughing at.

I remembered Olivia telling me that her mom would show up when she needed something. I was waiting for her to ask. Wouldit be money? Did she want a place to stay? Before I got the chance to ask, the door opened again.

This time, it was Olivia. She did not look happy about this reunion.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” Olivia asked as her eyes ping-ponged between her mother and me.

“I’ve been trying to call you,” her mother stated plainly.

“I’ll let you two speak.” I stood and started to leave the room.

“No,youdon’t have to go.” Olivia stopped me. “What’s wrong? What do you need? Why are you here?”

“I don’t…I don’t need anything. I wanted to give you something.”

“Give me something?” Olivia repeated.

“Yes.” Ms. Bradshaw reached inside her purse and pulled out an envelope that looked like it had seen better days. It was yellowish and the corners were curled.

As she passed it to Olivia, I saw that on the outside, the words ‘To My Liv’ were written on it.

“What’s this?” Olivia asked as she looked down at it.

“After your father passed, your Uncle Mort gave that to me to give to you.”

Olivia’s brow creased. “To give to me now?”

“No, I…um…” Ms. Bradshaw cleared her throat and stood taller. “I believe his intention was for me to give it to you at the time, but I didn’t.”

Olivia’s gaze lifted to meet her mother's. The tension between them was palpable. I decided I should give them some privacy.

I started to walk toward the door that led out of the office and into the house. “I’ll let you two?—"

“No. You don’t need to leave. This is your office.” Olivia turned toward her mother again. “What does it say?” she asked her mother.

“I don’t know. I didn’t open it.”

“Why did you wait over twenty years to give this to me?” The surface of Olivia’s tone was calm, but beneath it, there was a storm of emotions.

Ms. Bradshaw glanced over at me before looking back at Olivia. “Because I was upset.”

“You were upset?” Olivia repeated slowly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

---