Page 39 of Sweet Escape
“Seriously, Wilder?” Olivia says. “I don’t need nor want this much food.”
The entire table is watching the interaction with something like curiosity. Emmy is drifting off, so I keep my voice low when I say, “Humor me, Cupcake.”
She rolls her eyes, reaching for her glass of orange juice, but she can’t quite reach it with Emmy’s body sandwiched between her and the table. I smirk, waiting for her to ask for help. Instead, she gives up and plucks a piece of bacon off her plate.
Clearly, she’s got a stubborn streak I’m gonna have to learn to work around, but I’m nothing if not persistent. I move the glass within reach.
She purses her lips and mutters something that sounds a lot like, “Domineering asshole.”
“So, what brings you here this morning, Olivia?” Mama asks, cradling a mug of steaming hot coffee. “Something to do with the birthday party, I presume?”
Olivia takes a napkin off the table and dabs at her mouth. With Emmy now fast asleep, I extricate her from Olivia’s lap. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back. I’m just going to put this angel to bed.”
An awkward silence descends over the room until Jaxon saves the day. “So, you make those amazing cupcakes at the diner, right?”
I don’t stick around long enough to hear her answer, trailing down the hallway. Mama had a special room made up just for Emmy when we moved back to town, and it’s been a blessing on days like today. After tucking her into bed, I walk back out, leaving the door cracked.
Laughter drifts out of the dining room, and my nerves lessen slightly at the sound of Liv’s voice. She’s telling them about plans for Emmy’s cowgirl-themed birthday. I’m grateful for the momentary distraction, but it’s about to be short-lived. We have news to share, and I can’t hold it in any longer.
I step up behind Liv, placing my hands on her shoulders. She turns and smiles at me, her gorgeous eyes alight with something akin to affection.
“It’s time,” I murmur, squeezing gently.
She lifts a hand and grasps mine, holding onto me for support—whether it’s for her nerves or mine, I can't tell.
Clearing my throat, I say, “We have something important to tell y’all.”
All eyes are on me as I search for the right words, coming up empty.
Rescuing me from the awkward moment while also robbing me of my breath, Liv blurts out the words, “I’m pregnant.”
Griffin’s fork clatters to the plate, the only sound in an otherwise silent room.
“How?” The question comes from Jaxon, a look of incredulity on his face.
Griffin barks out a laugh. “Well, you see, Jaxy, when two people?—”
“Fuck you, Griff. That's not what I meant.”
Liv covers her mouth to stifle a laugh.
“Olivia and I met on the plane back from Denver. The flight was diverted, and we ended up spending some time together.”
“You sure know how to distract yourself from that fear of flying,” Griffin quips.
“Don’t be a dick,” Jaxon says. “Congratulations, Wild Man.”
Without saying a word, Mama rounds the table and pulls me in for a crushing hug. “Another grandbaby to spoil! I can hardly believe it.” She cradles my face between her hands, her eyes filling with tears. “Are you happy?”
Liv twists a napkin between her fingers, visibly holding back tears of her own.
Am I happy? About the baby, absolutely. About Liv being the mother of my child? Without question, I couldn’t ask for a better person to be by my side through this.
But am I happy? That question is far too complicated for a one-word answer. I haven’t felt genuine happiness since my wife took her last breath, and the persistent guilt makes it damn near impossible to move on. So, I do the only thing I can do to keep them from seeing the truth: I lie.
“Yeah, Mama. I’m happy.”
Olivia
