Page 34 of Sheltering Hollis

“Mommy, I don’t want to go to school. I want to stay home with you.” Olive’s arms wrapped around my legs. “Do I have to go?”

We had always had a strict agreement about school, but there may be a time for concessions. This was an extreme circumstance.

“Maybe just for today,” I conceded, stroking her hair. “We’ll spend the day together.”

Olive’s face lit up. “Yay! Can we make pancakes?”

Dimitri chuckled. “I think pancakes are a great idea. What do you think, Hollis?”

“I think pancakes sound perfect,” I agreed, feeling a sense of contentment settle over me. “Let’s get started.”

As we moved into the kitchen, the sunlight streaming through the windows made me hopeful.

The kitchen buzzed with activity as we gathered ingredients for pancakes. Olive was chattering about everything she wanted to do today, her excitement infectious. Dimitri and I exchanged smiles, both of us grateful for the simple joy of this moment.

"Mommy, can I help mix?" Olive asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Of course, sweetheart," I replied, handing her the spoon. "Just be careful not to splash too much."

Dimitri stood beside her, scraping the sides of the bowls and then handing her back the spoon to stir the batter. It was heartwarming to see how naturally he interacted with her. Any earlier worries faded away.

"So, Olive," Dimitri began, his tone light, "what's your favorite kind of pancake?"

"Chocolate chip!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up. "Can we make those?"

Dimitri glanced at me, his eyes twinkling. "What do you say, Hollis? Do you have any chocolate chips?"

If we played hooky, I could go all in on the sugar. I rummaged through the pantry, finally finding a bag of chocolate chips at the back. "Looks like we're in luck," I said, handing the bag to Olive. "You can add them in."

Olive eagerly poured the chocolate chips into the batter, her concentration adorable. As she did, I watched Dimitri, noting how he smiled at her and the gentleness in his movements. He was so different from the hardened man I had met in Colombia. Was it just a few days ago?

We finished cooking and sat at the small kitchen table; plates piled high with fluffy chocolate chip pancakes. Olive took a big bite, her eyes widening with delight. "These are the best pancakes ever!"

I laughed, my heart feeling light for the first time in weeks. "I'm glad you like them, sweetie."

Dimitri and I continued talking, sharing stories and dreams as we ate, and I could feel our bond growing stronger. Olive chimed in with her own stories, her laughter filling the room. At that moment, everything felt right.

As the day wore on, I felt grateful for the unexpected twists and turns that had brought us here. Despite the hardships, we had found something precious—each other. And as long as we faced the future together, I knew we could handle whatever came our way.

In the afternoon, as Olive napped in her room, exhausted from showing Dimitri her favorite playground, she insisted he play tag with her. To my surprise, I watched him engage immediately, racing around the park after her until he caught her in a hug.

Olive liked him. I could see that she enjoyed the interaction that he was providing. The male figure that I hadn’t thought she needed.

After laying beside her small body in her twin bed, measuring her breaths and smelling that scent that could only be a mix of sunscreen, grass, and childhood exertion, I thanked my lucky stars that I could be next to her again. She’d been amazing and resilient, only breaking down once in tears, telling me I needed to promise not to disappear again. I wasn’t sure she was okay, but I would do everything possible to ensure she was.

I returned to the living room. Dimitri was casually texting on his phone, relaxed on the couch like he belonged there. After breakfast, he carried our bags upstairs and changed into jeans and a t-shirt, proudly displaying the tattoos I admired.

"Dimitri," I began, my voice soft, "thank you for staying and being here with us. I’m glad you stayed.”

He turned to me, his eyes filled with warmth. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be, Hollis. Come here, malysh.” His hands reached for me, pulling me over his hips. “I just want to feel you against me. It’s been all day. I’ve had to look at you and keep my hands to myself.”

That wasn’t entirely accurate. He’d brush up against me in the most innocuous ways when Olive wasn’t paying attention, rubbing against me in the kitchen while I was rinsing the dishes, pushing his cock against me, letting me feel that he was hard. Still, I appreciated that he was aware of my concerns in front of her. But she was sleeping … I had checked.

Straddling him, I snuggled against his chest, releasing a sigh as his arms came around me. He smelled of grass and sunshine right now from the park. It made me happy to think of him there with her. I also wasn’t sure I would have felt completely safe without him.

“What are you thinking about, malysh? You’re all tense.” He rubbed a hand along my spine. “Share with me,” he coaxed.

Since Olive was little, I’d raised her alone. I hadn’t dated. There weren’t any men or anyone who supported me. The closest I’d come was Mrs. Hooper, who had been an absolute godsend these past ten days.

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