All Good Things(93)

She laughed and it sounded almost easy. I smiled and her face grew serious. "What is her name?"

"Karen." I answered.

"Hum," she nodded. "Tell me a little about her."

"She remarried shortly after my father died. John is a nice guy." I shrugged. "He is good for my mother."

"Good for her." Olivia nodded. "I'm sure it took courage to allow another into her heart."

I decided not to point out my father never really had a place in Karen's heart. Karen had stayed with my father out of fear. She hadn't left him, because he had the money and power to fight to keep my sister and I. So, rather then make our lives hell, she dealt with him until he finally did us all a favor, and died. At least Karen and Jaylah were free to live their dreams without him in the picture. He still ruled my life, but the outcome was worth the restrictions for me.

"Will Jaylah be at dinner?" Olivia asked.

I glanced down at her and wondered, if maybe, she was not a fan of my sister. I hoped that was not the case. "She will."

Visible relief flooded her face and the tension in my stomach eased. "Oh, thank God."

I laughed. "You liked her, I take it."

Olivia nodded. "I won't lie, she was overwhelming." She laughed as though remembering something. "But, she was very warm hearted. Maybe a little too invasive of my personal bubble," she shrugged with a beaming grin. "But, I can deal with that."

She had Jaylah pegged. "I'm glad to hear it."

***

Jace pulled into a long, gated drive in the Hamptons. My heart thundered and my hands trembled as I thought of stepping from the comfort and safety of the car. I don't know what I was so afraid of...I had already met Jaylah and she was great. I was certain Karen would be just as amazing. I mean, she did raise both Jace and Jaylah...she had to be pretty amazing...right?

"Are you just going to sit in the car all night?" Jace teased, as I tried to pull my courage from hiding.

"I was thinking about it." I replied, smugly, and he laughed.

"Not going to happen, Angel." Jace stepped from the car and I watched him with a wildly beating heart as he walked around the car to my door. He opened it and bent down to press his lips to mine. "I'm here." He whispered the calming words against my lips and I nodded.

"I'm ready."

Jace placed his hand on my lower back as we walked up the intricate stone pathway. The door opened before we had even reached the front step and Jaylah's beaming face came into view.

"You're here." She squealed excitedly. Without giving me a chance to run in the opposite direction, she grasped my hands in hers and pulled me through the door. "Come in, come in. Take your shoes off and make yourself at home."

I couldn't help the smile from surfacing on my face. Over the course of the years, I'd begun to associate big houses and lots of money with cool, judgmental people. But Jace's family was warm and exuberant. I had a feeling, that of them all, Jace was the coolest personality.

I kicked off my shoes as Jaylah held onto my hands. "Mom is so excited to meet you. She's in the kitchen right now up to her elbows in food."

I cocked my head. My own mother wouldn't be caught dead in a kitchen. "She's cooking?"

"Yes. Mom only employs a cook when she is hosting a large gathering." Jaylah shrugged. "But, this is just family, so there was no need."

My heart flooded with heat at her words. I knew I shouldn't read anything into them, but oh, how I wanted to. I wanted to be part of this beautiful, loving family. I wanted to be with Jace...always. There was a part of me that was near certain he was the other half to my soul. Without him, I would never be complete.

A tall, burly man appeared at the top of a grand staircase. "You must be Olivia."

"I am." I nodded. "And you must be John."

"No." He growled. "Who's John?"

My eyes grew wide as I scanned my brain for the name Jace had given me...but, all I could come up with was John. I felt my entire face grow hot. Even my ears burned as I stared up at this big, gruff looking man descend the staircase.

Jace chuckled, laying his hand flat on my back. "He's joking, Olivia."

"Oh," a tense laugh escaped from between my lips. Oh, thank heavens...

Jaylah rolled her bright blue eyes and shook her head at John. "I'm telling Mom you were terrorizing her guest."

"I most certainly was not." John sounded appalled and then he turned serious brown eyes on me. "Was I terrorizing you, young lady?"

And, my ears grew hot again as I shook my head. "Of course not."

Jeez...what was going on here? I felt as though I'd stepped into another dimension. Jace did not display a sense of humor...at all. I didn't know what to make of John. I honestly didn't know if the man was serious, joking, or bipolar.