Page 58 of The Recovery Coach
Christina chuckled.“Logistically, life is always a mess.”
“My life is a bit messier than most.”
“What makes you think so?”
“Nothing new.All the same stuff I’ve been dealing with for months.Plus, I’m going to have to find a new job soon.Connor’s healing so fast.”
“Have you told him that?He’s been cranky about his recovery.”Christina tucked a stray strand of hair behind Olivia’s ear.
“He’s dramatic.You should have seen the fit he threw when Robbie told him he couldn’t ditch his cane yet.It was like a toddler’s temper tantrum.”
“Unsurprising.”
They fell into a silence again, and Olivia stared at the glittering Christmas tree, willing the blurriness to clear.
Christina broke the silence.“I’ve heard you’ve been going out a lot.Good for you, sweetheart.”
Olivia slapped a hand over her eyes, mortified.She’d been on five first dates since she’d downloaded all those apps, and they had all been horrible.She would never find someone to love.
“Oh my God, please tell me Connor hasn’t been airing out my dating woes.”
“He seems frustrated on your behalf.”
Tears pooled in her eyes again, and Olivia groaned.“He makes me crazy.”
“I know, hon.”
“Life would be much easier if the men who are actually interested in me made me feel the way he does.”Olivia twisted in Christina’s lap so she could see her face.
Christina offered her a sad smile.“I thought he would figure it out by now.I’m sorry he hasn’t.”
Olivia sighed and swallowed the lump in her throat.“It’s not meant to be, and that’s okay.I can’t keep waiting on him.”
“But you love him.”
“I always have, and I always will.”Olivia waved a hand in the general direction of the Christmas tree and family photos.“But I want this.I want what you have.A beautiful life with a beautiful family.Decades of happy memories and quiet Christmas mornings with my kids.A husband who would go to the ends of the earth for me if I simply asked.”
“I want that for you too, honey.”
“He doesn’t see me as wife material.”Olivia forced a half-hearted shrug.
Christina gave a sad sigh and tangled her fingers into Olivia’s bun, massaging her scalp.“Is it selfish that I wanted to keep you?I always thought you’d be my daughter someday.I hate that some other mom out there will get to be your kids’ grandma and will get to fill your stocking and get updates about your life and work and dreams.”
Olivia struggled into a seated position and gathered Christina into a tight hug.
“For all intents and purposes, you are my mom.Someday Connor will have a beautiful spouse you adore, but you can always have updates on my life and my work and my kids and my dreams.”
Chapter 22
Hazy
ThenightbeforeChristmasEve, Hazy couldn’t sleep.He stared at the faded glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling of his childhood bedroom, growing restless.The anxiety medication he’d taken for the plane ride had him zonked out cold for four hours, and then he slept again for the two-hour trip from the airport to his parent’s house.Without Livy, he may never have gotten home, and they’d managed to get in without waking his parents—a feat he’d never been able to pull off himself.
After rolling around in his tiny twin bed for three hours, he gave up, deciding that if he had to struggle to sleep, at least he could get snuggles out of the deal.He tapped on the door to Livy’s room.She didn’t answer, so he cracked the door to let himself in.She wouldn’t mind if he curled up next to her.
He found the bed empty, and disappointment filled him until he remembered Livy’s love of the Christmas tree in the dark.He crept down the hallway, intending to join her.At the top of the stairs, soft voices met his ears.
Hazy knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop, but he heard Livy say, “He makes me crazy,” and all semblance of manners went out the window.Hurt put a heavy weight on his shoulders.He’d been working hard to make her life easier.
