Page 38 of Ashes of the Past
Whoa! Where is this coming from?
I take a step closer, my eyes boring into hers. It bothers me that she’s so on edge that she seems to constantly be on the defensive.
I step closer, lowering my voice. “We’re not trying to mess up your day. I’m trying to help. Let me help.”
“I don’t need anyone’s help,” she says huffily.
“I swear, you’re the only woman in the world who would complain and fight someone when they’re trying to help clean up a kitchen.”
For a moment, she just stares at me, her lips pressed into a thin line. There’s a spark in her eyes, something electric that makes my pulse quicken.
“Mama?” Olivia says softly behind us. “I…uh, I forgot to tell you that I need to be at school early.”
She glances back at her daughter warily before she pinches the bridge of her nose and lets out a sigh. Then, to my surprise, she throws up her hands and turns on her heel.
“Fine. Have at it. But don’t be messing up my organization.”
I watch her go, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Don’t worry. I’ll manage.”
She stops in the doorway and looks back, her expression a mix of disbelief and… something else. Something that makes my chest feel too tight. Then she’s gone, her footsteps fading down the steps.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Jack,” Olivia says with a giant grin as she walks past me.
“For what?”
“I don’t have to be at school early, but she wasn’t going to give an inch. Thank you for trying to make her work less.”
She waves and rushes out the door after her mother. I watch her leave as I laugh to myself. Nick chuckles, too.
“Well, at least you’ve made a friend with her mini-me,” he says as he fills a plate with food.
“There is that,” I laugh.
Chapter Fifteen
Brynn
“Why do you need to go to school early?” I ask Olivia as the car carries us down the driveway.
“I don’t.” She shrugs. “I mean, I can get there early, but I only said that so you’d let Mr. Jack clean up.”
My mouth drops open in shock as I turn to look at my daughter. “Why would you lie?”
“It’s not a complete lie,” she says quickly. “Besides, you barely sleep. You’re the first one up in the morning and the last one to go to bed. You’re constantly doing stuff for everyone else, and you’re just…so independent that you won’t let anyone else help you. Mr. Jack was just trying to help.”
I drum my fingers against the steering wheel as I let her words settle over me. It’s pretty eye-opening to hear your twelve-year-old say these things to you.
“No, he’s trying to take over because he doesn’t think that I’m capable…”
She blows out a breath and leans forward, shaking her head. “He’s just being nice. He doesn’t think you’re incapable of anything.”
I sigh inwardly.
Maybe she’s right, but how dare he think he can walk in here and upend everything I’ve worked so hard to do?
How dare he think he can come in here and kiss me like that, too.
“I don’t know that you’re right, and I don’t like that you lied, but I do appreciate that you are trying to help.”
