Page 109 of The Lucky Heart (Jamison Valley 3)
“Phew,” I said when the last person came through the buffet line in the kitchen. “That was insane. You’re amazing.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” Olivia said. “Having your help was a lifesaver.”
Next year, I promised myself I’d do even more to share her load.
“Mom?” Silas called from the front door. “Can you come out here?”
“I’ll go,” I said, touching Olivia’s shoulder. “You should eat and have a big glass of wine. You’ve earned it.”
She smiled. “You know? I think I will.”
I hustled outside. Silas stood at the base of the porch steps, Courage right behind him. “What’s up?”
“Where’s Mom?”
“Inside taking a much-needed break.”
“Oh. I need to get him unsaddled and brushed out. I was hoping she could run down to the corral and grab the vaccines from Dad. They need to go in the fridge.”
I kissed his dusty cheek. “I’ll do it.”
“Lis—”
“I’ll be fine. Your dad and I can’t avoid each other forever. He’s just going to have to get used to me being around.” After dinner a month ago, we hadn’t seen him much but I meant what I’d said. We couldn’t avoid one another forever.
Silas sighed. “I just don’t want him to upset you or wreck your day.”
“Like I said, I’ll be fine. Go and get Courage taken care of and I’ll meet you in the barn. I put our dinner plates in t
he oven so we could eat together.”
“Thanks, babe.” He gave me another quick kiss before we split.
I squared my shoulders and marched to the corral. Please don’t let him be an ass. And if he is, please help me keep my mouth shut.
“Elliot?” I called.
He spun around from the table he was packing up. “What?”
I found my fake smile. “Silas said the vaccines need to be refrigerated. I just came down to get them from you.”
He grumbled something rude under his breath and turned to close a small, blue cooler, shoving it at me without a word. After I’d spent all day helping him and his wife, he couldn’t even mutter a “thank you”?
“You’re welcome,” I clipped and instantly wished the words back into my mouth. Why hadn’t I just ignored him and walked away?
Fucking hell, Felicity.
With a red face and clenched jaw, Elliot eyed me up and down. “That’s a good look for you, covered in shit.”
There was no keeping my anger in check now. My lip curled. “What is your problem?”
“You. You don’t belong here.”
My eyes narrowed. “You won’t scare me away.”
“Yeah?” he sneered. “We’ll see about that.”
We glared at one another for a few moments before I finally broke away and turned to leave, clutching the handle on the cooler with all my might.
