His making the trip to San Francisco made her anxious and happy. It stirred up hope on the one hand and hate on the other. Could she see him again and not fall apart if things were weird between them?
Time and distance were of little consolation if being together hurt more than it healed. Two weeks ago, with nowhere else to go, Liv had gratefully accepted her old boss’s offer to stay with her for a little while and contemplate a job offer. If Liv didn’t want a full-time position with the new company, an offer to work freelance was on the table. This morning Liv had decided independence worked best for her and her baby, and the two women had struck a self-employment deal. Maybe Danny would help her find her own apartment this weekend, somewhere close enough to the city that she could drive in to the office when needed.
Which meant Liv had to tell him about the promise she’d made to Mrs. L. That sweet, little old woman could talk a vegetarian into eating an all-beef patty with special sauce. She’d gotten Liv to agree to consider renting the guesthouse from Danny for her place of business. Liv knew Mrs. L. was playing matchmaker and, at the time, Liv hadn’t known how much she’d like living in San Francisco. She owed a phone call to Mrs. L. now that she’d decided to stay up north.
A buzzing noise broke into the silence in the dark room. Happy for the interruption, she reached under the covers for her cell phone. “Honor, hi!”
“Hey, Olivia. I hope I’m not calling too late, but I have a quick question.”
“Is everything okay?” She and Honor had kept in touch over the past couple of weeks, Honor sworn to secrecy about Liv’s whereabouts.
“Everything’s fine, but Bryce is no help whatsoever.”
“Linc knows I’m helpful,” Bryce called out, his voice easy to hear in the background.
“We’ll just let him think that,” Honor said under her breath. “So, outside evening party. Would you rather have candles or hurricane lamps?”
Liv wasn’t sure why Honor needed her opinion instead of the hosts of the party. “Candles.”
“That’s what I thought, too. Thanks.”
“You’re… Oh,” she said, feeling little flutters from Baby Lincoln. She put her hand on her stomach, hoping to feel the movement again.
“Did the baby just kick?” Honor asked excitedly.
“How did you know?”
“The sound of your voice,” Honor said.
“I just started feeling little twitches this week.”
“That’s amazing. I can’t imagine how that must feel. Not yet anyway.”
“You’re doing it the right way,” Liv said. “Fall in love, get married, then have a baby.”
“Hey, there is nothing wrong with the way you’re doing it, girlfriend. Sometimes life throws us curveballs and there is no such thing as a right order. Normally, I’m a totally fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl.”
“You’re also a good friend,” Liv said as her phone beeped with another incoming call. She glanced at the screen. “Hey, I’ve got to go, but we’ll talk soon.” She couldn’t ignore her mother’s call, no matter how much she wanted to.
“For sure. Bye!” Honor said quickly before disconnecting.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, Olivia.”
Liv paused. Her mom hadn’t said “hello” but “hi.” She couldn’t remember the last time her mom had offered the more casual greeting. Quiet lingered over the phone waves.
“I called to wish you a Merry Christmas next week.”
“Thanks. You, too.” Her mom and Jim were traveling out of town again, seemingly content to avoid Liv for all family holidays. Liv had foolishly hoped that when she’d told her mother the truth about the baby and that the wedding was off, her mom would find some decency and extend an invite to spend the holiday with her and Jim. It hadn’t happened. Probably never would.
“How is San Francisco?”
“It’s good,” Liv answered with extra enthusiasm to counter the dour tone of her mother’s voice. There would be no steps back for womankind because her mother didn’t approve of her choices. Single women had babies. They adopted babies. They worked and ran businesses at the same time they had babies. Olivia no longer needed anyone to fill the void she’d felt three months ago.
“Jim and I thought we’d drive up next month.”
Liv’s heart stopped. From hope or worry that her mother would let her down, she didn’t know. Her mom had “thought” things before and not followed through. Stop. Take this olive branch and think the best of it. She had to accept she’d never have a close relationship with her mom, but this gesture meant something.