Her mother blinked back tears.“I can’t imagine what couldhave happened.”
Oh, she was sure her mom had imagined everything.Everyhorrible act that could have been perpetrated on her had flashed through hermom’s mind, and probably twice for her dad.Her papa would let it go when heknew she was safe, but it would linger for her mom and dad.
It was one of the ways they worked.Papa’s emotions wereshared, while her dad’s ran deep.Papa softened Dad’s edges, and they both gaveher mother things she needed.Papa’s sunshine.Dad’s steady hand.
It struck her so forcibly.Garrett brought the sunshine.Hewas smart and quick and good with the big gestures.
Keane was quiet, far quicker to listen than to talk.He tookcare of the day-to-day gestures.He was the last in bed, the first one out.Notbecause he was eager to get to work.He got up to ensure the coffee was made.He would make breakfast for her and Garrett, and all the things they needed forthe day were always settled on the bar at the back door.
It was the thing she’d tried to avoid.Marrying men who werevery like her dads.It seemed weird and wrong, but her parents were happy.Theyloved each other.Never once in her life had she questioned that.They wentthrough insults and being looked down on, but what they got out of it wassomething remarkable.They got love.They got partners who would never let themdown.Partners who stayed during the hard times.
Why on earth would she not want that?
“Hey,” Papa said, his expression morphing into deep concern.He reached out and brushed away tears that were falling on her cheeks.“You’reokay.It sounds like they caught the man who did it.We’ll make sure he nevercomes close to you again.”
She was glad they found the man, though she couldn’tremember much past Scott looking horrified.She shook her head.“Not scaredtears.”
“Baby, what’s happening?”Her mom moved close, wrapping herhand around Olivia’s.“I don’t like to see you sad.”
“Not sad, either.”She sniffled.She was starting to feelstronger now.“I’m just having a revelation.”
“About what?”her mom asked.
“About how all my life I let things put pressure on me thatI shouldn’t.I decided at the age of eight that I was in love, and even when itdidn’t work the way I wanted it to, I closed myself off.I dated and thought ifI couldn’t have the perfection I thought I found at eight, I would simply findsomeone and be normal.”
“Oh, baby.There’s no such thing.”Papa looked down on herwith kind eyes.“The word normal is a weapon the rest of the world uses onanyone who doesn’t conform.”
She nodded.“I know.”
“Uhm, and it wasn’t perfection.I know you loved Bobby,but…” her mom trailed off.
The thought made her laugh.“Will and I were oil and water.I know.Looking back there’s so much I should have seen.But I see it now.Isee it because I think I found something.Not something perfect.Somethingreal.”
Her mother smiled.“You’re dating someone?”
Well, this was not how she planned to tell them, but therewas no time like the present.“You remember the lawyer and the foreman who cameout to work while Josh is gone?”
Her mom’s eyes widened.“Yes.”
Olivia winced.“We kind of had a fling the night of thewedding, and I didn’t mean to ever see them again…”
“I don’t know that I should hear this.”Her papa went a bitpale.
Olivia ignored him.Her parents hadn’t instilled some senseof shame about sex in her.This was their fault.“It was so good, but I toldmyself I wasn’t ready for a relationship, much less a ménage.But then theywere on the plane.”
“Please tell me you didn’t do it on the plane,” Papawhispered.“I like that plane.”
Her mother’s eyes rolled.“You have had sex on that plane,Sam.”
“That’s what I’m saying.It’smysex plane.I lovemy kids, but I shouldn’t have to share my sex plane with them,” Papa announcedlike that made a lick of sense.
“I told them we should be professional.I was ready to notget involved even though deep down I wanted to.And then Scott showed up and Iintroduced them as my boyfriends.I didn’t even hesitate and neither did they,and then the fake part got real.I think I’m in love with them.”
“You haven’t known them long enough to be in love withthem,” Papa said quietly.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed.“How long did it take for you,Sam Fleetwood?Because I seem to remember you saying you loved me the firsttime you saw me.”
Her papa went the slightest bit pale.“I did.I just didn’tthink… I’m going to be quiet now and support my sensible daughter.I lookforward to getting to know them both.Aidan and Lucas speak highly of them.”