Page 114 of The Kidnapped

Raleigh chuckled and pulled her down for a kiss.

CHAPTER 36

“Look at me: I’m sitting upright at the kitchen table,” Olivia said.

Hollis smiled at her mom as she placed the glass of water in front of her. Her mother hadn’t been able to eat solid foods for a bit now, so the nurses had been feeding her through a tube, and Hollis and Raleigh had learned how to do it as well. Because of that, though, and her worsening condition, Olivia hadn’t been in the kitchen in a while, so they’d decided to have a bit of a field trip today. Hollis sat down next to her and looked out the kitchen window into the backyard.

“Do you want me to clean up the back garden and plant things this spring? I’m no green thumb, but I can at least put some flowers back there.”

“That’ll be up to you,” Olivia replied.

“What did you have back there before?”

“Oh, this and that,” she said. “I had a good bunch of tomatoes a couple of years in a row, and I did some herbs that worked out.”

“Any particular flowers?” Hollis asked.

“Not really. If something didn’t grow back in the spring, I just went to the nursery in town and picked up whatever I thought was the prettiest that season. I liked having the variety back there. I had rose bushes about ten years ago, but those are a pain to keep up with, so I didn’t bother after that.”

“I can do roses for you, if you want them,” Hollis offered.

“What do you want, Hollis?” her mother asked, smiling that motherly smile at her.

“Me? I don’t know anything about flowers or gardening.”

“I don’t mean the garden, sweetheart.”

“Oh,” she said, realizing the conversation had shifted. She leaned forward and added, “I don’t know.”

“I think you know at least some of it.”

Hollis smiled and said, “She told me she loves me.”

“And did you say it back?” Olivia asked.

“I said it first,” Hollis told her proudly. “When I was in Vancouver, Mom, all I could think about was getting back here.”

“I’m just glad that you had something positive to think about instead of worrying about me the whole time.”

“I worried about you, but I knew Raleigh would take care of you. I only worried that if something happened, I’d be hours away, but I knew she was here with you, so that made me feel a little better.”

“I’m glad you found someone,” her mom said.

“I never thought I would, but she’s here, and it’s like all the stuff I’ve gone through basically led me right to her. I know how that sounds, and it’s not that I wish–”

“I know,” Olivia interjected, nodding a little. “I had no real luck at love myself, but I did fall for your father once, and things were good for us for a while, so I can understand what you mean.”

“I don’t know what happens with us from here. We’re still waiting to hear back from Dylan or the FBI, but they haven’t found this woman to tell us if it’s Eden or not. And, Mom, I’m worried that if it’s not her, Raleigh won’t make it through this.”

“Of course, she will,” Olivia said confidently.

“How can you know that?”

“Because as much as she doesn’t seem to think so, Raleigh is strong. She’s made it this far. And the first year, honey, is the worst. In a way, it’s the best because more people are still paying attention to your kid being missing before other kids go missing and take up their time, so it’s the best chance you have of getting your child back, but it’s also the worst. You have to adjust to them not being around. I used to walk by your room in the morning to start my coffee before I walked back to wake you up, and you weren’t there anymore. Raleigh’s made it through that. Plus, she’s got a support group, which I never had and most people don’t take advantage of, and she has you.”

“I’m not sure how much help I am right now. I’ve had my own stuff going on,” Hollis argued.

“Hollis, she’s told me numerous times that you are supportive, caring, and kind. She knows she’s lucky to have you.”

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