Page 38 of Time To Live Again

Shit. Her tone is serious now. What if I don’t want to answer?

I rest my hip against the desk and cross my arms. “Shoot.”

“I didn’t hear you mention your dad.”

“Oh.” I tap my upper lip, wishing I’d kept that stupid ’stache. “He died when I was eighteen. He had a kidney transplant, but his body rejected it. He passed away the next day.”

She frowns. “Oh, Leo! That’s horrible. Your poor father and family. Transplants are always dangerous.”

I massage the back of my neck. “We got through it somehow.”

I regret a lot of things, not the least of which was my strained relationship with Dad. I’m ashamed to admit that losing my cousin was harder for me.

“I lost my dad too, a year and a half ago, to a bee sting. He was highly allergic and was never without his EpiPen—until that day. He went outside to do something in the yard while Mom and I were out grocery shopping. He didn’t make it to the house in time to get it. We usually shopped on Fridays, but that week, Mom switched it to Saturday. When she got home, she found him lying on the grass—it was already too late. I can’t imagine what she went through in that moment, dealing with it all alone. She doesn’t talk about it much, but I know she blames herself because she wasn’t there. If she had stayed home with him, he might still be here today. It’s brutal when guilt and grief collide.”

This conversation has taken a sharp nose dive, but I can definitely empathize. “It’s still hard, especially for my mom. After all this time, she has no interest in meeting other men. The pain doesn’t go away, but I’ve had more time to deal with it than you have.”

“Yeah, it feels like yesterday.” Her voice cracks and her eyes brim with sadness. “A life event that contributed to the way I am now.” She turns her back to me, and I hear her sniff. “I’m sorry. That ruined the mood. And now I’ve embarrassed myself two times in front of you today.”

I step in front of her and pull her into my arms. She rests her cheek on my chest and wraps her arms around my lower back. Her warm, soft body fits perfectly against mine. I kiss the top of her head like I’ve been doing it forever, smelling her floral shampoo.

“No need to be sorry, Olive. Sometimes it’s good to talk to a stranger. Someone who’s removed from the situation.”

“Why do you want to deal with someone who’s such a mess?”

“I like messes.”Because I’m one too.

“Sure you do. And you don’t feel like a stranger.” She looks up at me, then drops her chin to my chest. “It’s funny. The last thing my mother said to me yesterday was not to talk to strangers. What did I do? I came in here and started talking to you. Haven’t stopped yet. And don’t plan on it anytime soon.”

I arch an eyebrow, and she rolls her eyes.

“Yes, I know I’m thirty. It doesn’t matter to her. She probably thinks I’m still twelve. Another reason I ended up here.”Sniff.

“Even more of a reason you should come with me to Ma’s then. Hiking, pot roast, and apple crumble to take your mind off things.”

She strokes my back, then drops her arms. “I think you’re right.”Sniff.

I reach across the desk and snag a tissue box. She takes one from it and blows her nose like a bugle. Now I know I really have it bad because I find it adorable.

“Why don’t we go have a drink at the bar before I have to work again? No alcohol for me, though.”

“Okay. And you can tell me where we’re hiking tomorrow and other things I can do.”

“We never got to do that, did we? I’m horrible at my job.”

“Far from it. But is this how you treat all your female guests?” She smirks, but her eyes reflect uncertainty.

“Olive, you’re the first.”And the last. “No one’s caught my eye until you came through our doors yesterday.”

She covers her face. “Please tell me you didn’t see my butt triggering the door sensors when I first arrived.”

I throw my arm around her shoulders and steer her toward the door. “Let’s go to the bar first, then I’ll tell you.”

15

OLIVE

Irelax in the seat as we drive up the steep mountain, my sleepy eyes ready to close. My legs and feet ache from our four-mile hike around parts of Mountain Lake. Maybe it’s not strenuous for most people because it was fairly flat terrain, but I woke up this morning with sore muscles from dancing at the party and yesterday’s exercise. Have you ever heard the phrase “second day burn”? Enough said.

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