Chapter 32

ANNA

We pull up to my dad’s modest two-story house nestled near the woods. It’s late when we get there, and my mom rushes out from the porch to greet us.

“Gigi!” Liv shouts, darting over to Mom for a big, warm hug.

“Hello, my little Livvy-pie,” Mom coos, tickling Liv until she’s giggling uncontrollably.

Mom straightens up and pulls James and me into a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” she says, her voice filled with relief.

~Home.~

~

I would’ve loved to grow up in this house. It’s beautiful, and I bet I’ll see more than a few pictures of Liv and me on the walls today.

Dad felt like he missed out on a lot, so Mom tried to fill him in with photos from my childhood.

“Let’s head inside—I made lasagna. We all have an early start tomorrow.” I give her a quick kiss on the cheek and sling my arm around her as we walk into the house.

Just as I thought, there are pictures of Liv and me everywhere. Even my junior prom picture with James. That dress was a disaster.

“That dress…,” Mom says, shaking her head with a smile.

“Don’t remind me, it was the nicest one I was ~allowed~ to wear.” A flicker of guilt crosses her face.

“I’m so sorry,” she says.

“Don’t, Mom. You were young. You did your best. I know that I didn’t have it that bad. I know they loved me, in their own way.”

~In their very strict, what-Christian-society-allowed kind of way. Just to keep up appearances. Hypocrites.~

~

“And remember, even though what they did was wrong, they believed it was the right thing for you,” she reminds me.

“I know, Mom. I’m happy with how things turned out. Without all the drama in my life, I wouldn’t have found you or Dad. I would always have wondered why my aunt hated me so much.

“I understand now, and I know you didn’t hate me, it was just too hard. I get that.”

She still looks a bit hurt. Without responding, she quickly changes the subject.

“Can you set the table? Dad will be home soon.”

I do as she asks, and sure enough, Dad walks through the front door five minutes later.

“Poppa!” Olivia screams.

“I could get used to this,” he says, beaming. He kisses Mom right on the lips.

I stare at them, eyes wide.

“When…d-did—” I stutter, pointing at Mom and Dad.

Mom playfully hits Dad on the chest. “See, now you’ve got her all worked up.”

Dad starts laughing, hard. “She’s twenty-one, Bec. It’s not like she won’t understand what happened. It’s the same thing that happened between her and James, just a few hours later.”

“Ew! Ew!” I stand up, completely grossed out. I shake my head and leave, their laughter following me out of the room.

I spin around and come back, realization hitting me.

“So while I was worried sick about Dad, you two were having sex?” Dad’s smirk says it all.

“Please tell me, Mom—” She looks at me. “Was it any good?”

Her cheeks turn pink and Dad's smirk only widens.

“No funny business with Olivia in the house,” I tell them in my best mom voice. We all burst into laughter a second later.

~I’m terrible at mom-voicing my parents.~

~

Dinner is great, but then Mom’s phone rings.

“Work,” she says, rolling her eyes as she picks up.

“Rebecca speaking.”

“Are you serious? How could you mess that up? I gave you one task. One.” She looks livid.

“No, don’t touch that phone. I’ll handle it in the morning, but I’m only on stand-by. My granddaughter has to go to the hospital and you’re not going to be the reason I miss that.”

She slams her phone on the counter, startling us all.

“Stupid assistant. Goddamn it.”

“Curse jar!” Liv announces proudly.

I give James a look, nodding toward Liv. He scoops her up and takes her out of the room, telling her it’s bedtime.

“But Gigi didn’t say goodnight,” she whines.

“Gigi will come read you a bedtime story after you’re in bed, Lovebug.”

“Okay!” she agrees.

Just like that, she’s content. That kid.

“Mom?” “Babe?” Dad and I say simultaneously.

“Sorry! I’m sorry for scaring you. I just—”

“What happened?” Dad asks.

She sighs. “My assistant—she’s been doing this job for years—messed up an order, and our client is furious. I told her I would handle it over the phone, but the client insists on seeing me.

“I’m known to be the best—she messed up, but I’m the one who’s responsible. I just want to be there for you, Anna. I can feel it in my bones that you’ll need me,” she says.

She waves her hand dramatically across her body, pointing at her bones.

I go to her and grab her shoulder, turning her toward me. “Go,” I tell her.

I know how important her job is to her, and she needs to maintain her reputation. But she shakes her head.

“Just go,” I tell her again. “If anything happens, I’ll call you. Tell them that you can’t stay long but you wanted to explain what happened. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

“She’s right, babe,” Dad adds.

“Alright, I’ll head over first thing tomorrow. After that, I’m sticking to you like glue. Just ring me if anything comes up.”

“I promise,” I assure her.

BECCA

By 8 a.m. on the dot, I’m standing at my client's doorstep. I can’t believe this. The one day I ask for a break in years, and this is what I get. If this keeps up, I’ll need more than a day off.

I know I shouldn’t have been so tough on my assistant, Mary. It’s her first mistake, but ultimately, it’s on me. I just know where I need to be today. I have this terrible gut feeling.

And I hate it. Because my gut feeling is seldom wrong.

I press the doorbell and Mrs. Quinn answers. As always, she’s the picture of wealth. I’m just in comfy clothes, not my usual office attire, but it’s my day off.

“Rebecca,” she greets me, her tone icy as she lets me in.

“Mrs. Quinn,” I respond.

I step into the room and sure enough, the couch that was delivered is the wrong one. It’s just the color that’s off, but still.

As I suspected, it’s a minor mistake—one that this company often makes. I check my email and confirm that we did order the right color.

“How could you let this happen?”

I roll my eyes internally. “I just checked the order, and the error is on their end. I’ll call them and have them pick up the couch today. The correct one will be delivered tomorrow.”

“It better be,” she retorts.

“Why did you need me here, anyway? My assistant could’ve handled this.”

Her eyes flash at me and I instantly regret my question.

“You were supposed to be the best. I thought you owed me an explanation.”

~Wait, what?!~

~

“Owed?” I echo, my mouth falling open.

“You do realize that I also have days off, and a family? I came here because I thought something was seriously wrong. But this could’ve been sorted out over the phone.”

“What kind of businesswoman are you?” she snaps. My phone rings and I see that it’s Anna. My heart sinks.

“Put it on speaker,” she orders. I shake my head. She snatches my phone from my hand and switches it to speaker herself.

“Mom…,” Anna sobs over the phone. Her soft cries pierce my heart.

Mrs. Quinn’s face turns ashen.

“Anna? What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I ask her, my voice choked.

“It’s Olivia. The chemo was too much. They’ve moved her to the isolation wing. Mom, I’m so scared. I need you.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Where’s your dad? James?”

“James is on the phone with his parents and Dad is talking to Jasmine. I’m alone right now. Mom, I don’t want to be alone again.” And that shatters my heart.

“Stay put, Anna. Do you hear me? I’m on my way.” I end the call and wipe away my tears.

“The couch issue will be resolved. I’ll call my assistant.”

Mrs. Quinn nods. “Who was that?” she asks, purely out of curiosity.

“My daughter,” I tell her proudly.

“I didn’t know you had a daughter. Olivia must be your other daughter?” she guesses.

“She’s my granddaughter,” I tell her flatly.

“Granddaughter? But—”

I laugh shortly. “I prefer to keep my work and personal life separate. My granddaughter is three, and she has cancer.”

She gasps. “Three?”

I nod. “I took the day off to be there for my daughter. I have this bad feeling. I don’t know what it is, but I know that she needs me.”

“A mother’s instinct is never wrong. Go! If I had known, I wouldn’t have—” she starts, regret in her voice.

“I know. It’s okay,” I tell her, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

~Mom is on her way, baby. I’m coming.~

~