Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Rhett
All through dinner, I’ve been carefully assessing Olivia. I cannot figure her out. She has moments of warmth, but she can also be a bit callous. I’m not sure what it is about her parents that makes her want to keep them at such a distance. After everything she’s been through, I would think she’d understand that she needs some support.
The cherry on top of it all is that despite the qualities that make me want to just implode on her, I still have this strange feeling in my gut when I’m around her. She ignites something in me that I haven’t allowed myself to feel in more than four years. It feels simultaneously amazing and terrifying.
I pour Jack another glass of Scotch as Olivia helps her mom wash dishes. Mandi rambles on about all the things she’s excited to do with her daughter in Roots, and Olivia just stands there, drying a dish silently and staring at a spot on the wall.
What is going on with her? Her parents are amazing! They’re the parents I wish I had, and she doesn’t even appreciate them. She has parents that love and support her no matter what. I would love to have that.
“You and Rhett should definitely hang out while you’re in town. He knows Roots better than any local. He can show you all the cool places,” Mandi insists with a smile.
I can see Olivia’s defenses immediately rising again. She’s on guard, eyeing me and wondering what the catch is.
“I’m sure Rhett has much better things to do than show me around town. Besides, I was thinking I should find a job around here. It’d be good to make a little money and have something to do. As long as I don’t work for a competitor of my firm, I can still work during my leave of absence.”
“Just because you can work doesn’t mean you should . Don’t you think you should be taking it easy? Maybe this would be a good time to see a therapist and work through your episodes.”
“You know counseling isn’t a good fit for me, and even if I got help, I’m not going to spend my entire three months in therapy. You promised you wouldn’t do this, Mom. I said I was going to figure out how to handle my anxiety on my own. You don’t need to make it your problem. That was the one condition I gave you when I agreed to come here.”
“I know, honey, but I can’t help being worried. I didn’t hear from you for weeks and then when I finally talked to you, I found out you’ve been having your episodes again. Do you know what that does to a mother?”
“And a father!” Jack chimes in.
“And a father,” Mandi amends. “All any parent wants is to see their child grow up and thrive. I can take not hearing from you for a while if it’s because you’re out there doing wonderful things that make you happy, but instead, you were just pummeling yourself into the ground, working seventy-hour weeks and having episodes the whole way through. I think it’d be smart for you to take this as a break, and get some professional help while you work on your mental health. You haven’t taken a breath in two years. When else will you get this opportunity again?”
Olivia visibly swallows as if she’s trying to tamp down whatever words she was about to unleash on her mom.
“I get where you’re coming from, but the reason I’m here is to show you that I’m fine . I had a low point, but I’m past it. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Now hang on a minute. We all know your panic attacks haven’t been a one-time thing,” Jack interjects harshly. “Maybe the job is just too much for you.”
Olivia’s eyes go round, and anger seeps out of her pores as her face turns bright red. I feel uncomfortable being here to witness all of this.
“The job is not too much for me! You know this has been our dream for a long time, Dad. I’m doing things the way you wanted. I got my CPA license. I made it to the Big Four. This isn’t too much.”
I can’t tell whether she’s trying to convince her dad or herself at this point.
Determined to extricate myself from this private matter without making it awkward, I start grabbing some forks for the lava cakes. Just as I turn toward the dining room, Jack throws an arm out to stop me.
“I know, but things change.”
“You two are making way too big a deal out of this. Maybe I had a few other panic attacks before that, but they were minor. I haven’t had one since. It’s not worth giving up my future for.”
“Well of course you haven’t had more! You haven’t been back to your job since then.” Mandi is shaking now.
“I think it’s time for me to leave.”
“No, don’t go. We still haven’t had dessert.” Mandi’s eyes are pleading, but Olivia is already marching furiously toward the front door.
“Are you going to give me a ride, Golden Boy, or should I start walking?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Golden Boy?”
“Yes, Mr. Perfect.”
“We haven’t had dessert yet. I think we should stay, and you can all sort this out,” I offer, trying to keep the peace.
Her eyes shoot daggers at me, and I finally understand where the phrase comes from because I can feel the pain of her sharp gaze on me. I look to Mandi and Jack for some sort of support or guidance. This is their daughter. They should know what to do with her. I certainly don’t.
Mandi bites her lip but nods her head the slightest bit toward the door, indicating I should follow her. I nod and head that way but pause briefly. “What do I do?”
“I’m not sure what she needs these days.” Mandi sighs, looking defeated. “I just want my happy baby girl back. She used to be my best friend, but now she won’t open up to me. I want to help her so badly, but nothing I do is working.”
I rub Mandi’s back gently, trying to ignore the squeezing feeling in my chest on her behalf. She just wants to love her daughter. I know it’s not my place. I shouldn’t get involved, but I can’t stand seeing Mandi like this. She deserves to have a daughter that reciprocates her mother’s love. Maybe I can help.
Mandi doesn’t meet my gaze as she turns to the counter and grabs the box of cakes I brought. “Make sure she tries one. She’s going to love them.”
I take them and trudge out the door to find Olivia leaning against my truck, fuming, but her attitude doesn’t deter me. I’m going to fix this.