Chapter 17 #2
“Even then.” Olivia picked up the paper napkin from the table, twisting it and tearing off little strips.
“I remember my father being such a loving man. He was so tall and strong. He’d sweep me off my feet and carry me on his shoulders, spend hours curled up on my bed with me, telling me stories of English kings and queens, Joan of Arc, Rome, Pompeii, the Ottoman Empire.
He made history come alive for me, and I treasured those moments we spent together.
Up until the night my mother died, I never thought for a moment he could have such violence in him.
The man I knew was kind and gentle, and they want me to believe he’s a psychopath?
I have to find out what really happened, to those men who were murdered, and the night my mother died.
I can’t just sit back and let others find the answers for me.
This—all of this—is too personal. Can you understand that? ”
“Yes, I can understand that, but I don’t have to like it,” Theo replied. “I can’t help wanting to protect you.”
“I get that.” She shook her head. “But I will not be shielded from the truth, and I will not be told what to do… by anyone.”
“I’m beginning to see that.” Theo frowns.
A shadow suddenly fell over the table, and Olivia found herself looking up into the permanently dissatisfied expression of Mrs. Eustacia Bailey, lips pursed, hands folded tightly in front of her. Looking both resigned and apologetic, Jonathan Bailey stood next to her.
“Good evening, Mrs. Bailey,” Olivia said politely. “Mr. Bailey.”
“Good evening, Olivia, dear.” Mr. Bailey smiled warmly.
“This is my friend, Theodore Beckett,” Olivia introduced them. “Theo, this is Mr. and Mrs. Bailey. They own the convenience store.”
“We’ve met.” Theo nodded. “Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, I hope that you are well.”
Mrs. Bailey gave Theo a speculative look before turning her full attention back to Olivia.
“I have something to say to you, Olivia, and as you know, I’m a woman who speaks her mind. I won’t say anything behind your back that I won’t say to your face.”
“I’ve always appreciated that about you, Mrs. Bailey,” Olivia replied.
“Fact is, I don’t believe you had anything to do with those murders.”
Olivia opened her mouth, then abruptly shut it again. That certainly wasn’t what she was expecting.
“Despite what your father did to your mother,” she continued with all the eloquence and delicacy of a hammer, “you were always a good girl, had a good nature, and I just don’t believe the little girl I knew would do such a horrible thing, and anyone who says different is an idiot.”
“Um, thank you.” Olivia blinked. “That means a lot.”
“Yes, well.” She puffed herself up to her full height of five foot two. “I may be a gossip, I won’t deny it, but no one can ever accuse me of being a fool.”
“That’s true.” Olivia watched the older woman, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips.
“Liddy Mayberry has just started baking.” She switched subjects so fast that Olivia almost got whiplash.
“Uh, good for her?”
“Her youngest has left the nest, and she’s finding herself at a bit of a loose end and has taken to baking pastries and cakes. She has a fair hand with it if I do say so myself. Jonathan and I have been selling them for her in the store.”
“That’s kind of you.” Olivia’s gaze softened.
“I’m rather partial to her brownies.” Mr. Bailey winked.
“Her strawberry tart is especially good,” Mrs. Bailey continued, as if he hadn’t spoken.
“I’m sure it is,” Olivia replied, a bit confused as to how she’d ended up in the middle of this crazy conversation. Glancing across, she saw Theo sitting back, sipping his beer as he watched.
“I’ll save you one,” Mrs. Bailey told her brusquely. “You be sure and stop by the store tomorrow to pick it up. You can share it with your young man here.”
Olivia offered a heartfelt smile, genuinely touched at the stern woman’s obvious support of her and her acceptance of Theo. After all, Eustacia Bailey was not known for tolerating strangers in her town.
“Thank you.”
Mrs. Bailey nodded curtly, but as she turned to leave, she paused. “And I’m sure Jonathan will sneak you a Tootsie Roll before you leave.” A ghost of a smile whispered at the stern woman’s mouth.
Olivia blinked back sentimental tears as Mr. Bailey threw her a warm wave before following in the wake of his formidable wife.
“Did I really just hear that?” Shelley stepped up to their table and slid their meals in front of them. “Was Mrs. Bailey actually being nice to someone?”
“I guess miracles really do happen.” Olivia laughed, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Listen, Olivia,” Shelley began, “I’m really sorry about Kaitlin earlier. She didn’t really mean it. She’s just going through a lot of stuff right now.”
“Uh-huh,” Olivia replied.
“Look, I shouldn’t be telling you this, and please don’t say anything to anyone else.” Shelley leaned in closer. “The truth is, Adam and Kaitlin were seeing each other.”
“Yeah, I kinda got that impression.” Olivia sighed.
“And she’s pregnant.”
“Oh, shit.”
“Yeah,” Shelley agreed. “She had it confirmed the same morning she found out Adam had been murdered.”
Olivia closed her eyes.
“Oh God.”
“She’s not coping real well at the moment. Her hormones are all over the place, and she doesn’t really have any family, so she’ll be on her own with the baby.”
“It’s okay, Shelley. I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks,” she breathed out in relief. “Can I get you guys anything else?”
“No, thanks. We’re good.”
“Oh, and, Olivia,” Shelley added, “I really do think all that crap Chief Walcott has been spouting about you is a load of shit. I’ve never thought you’d hurt anyone.”
Olivia watched quietly as the other woman walked away.
“Seems you have more people on your side than you thought.” Theo scooped up a forkful of pie. “This is really good.”
“I suppose I do. I have to say, Mrs. Bailey was a surprise. I guess if she’s on my side, I could do a lot worse.” She shrugged. “Let me try some of your pie.”
He loaded another forkful and held it out to her. “Are you going to tell Jake about the file and Mrs. Talbot?” he asked as she took a bite.
She chewed thoughtfully and swallowed. “Mmm, it’s good. I don’t normally like Guinness, and yes, I’ll tell him. I’ll call him later and get him to come by the house in the morning after he finishes work.”
“I see the chief still has him on the worst shifts.”
“Of course, he has.” She took a bite of her Dublin coddle. “He’s punishing him for being my friend. Here, try this.” She scooped up a spoonful and held it out.
“That is good,” he mumbled. “Jackson’s cook seems to be a man of talent.”
“Anyway.” Olivia tucked into her meal. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. I feel like that’s all I do lately, talk about the murders and the chief of police.”
“What do you want to talk about then?” Theo took a sip of his beer.
“I don’t know, tell me something fun.”
“Something fun?”
“You know, something happy from your childhood.” She picked up her beer and took a sip.
“Uh…” He stared up at the ceiling as he cast his mind back. “I used to braid my sister’s hair.”
“Sorry?”
“My mother died giving birth to Temperance, so as the youngest, it fell largely to me to care for her,” he answered.
“She had seen some of the other girls in the village with their hair braided, and she wanted the same, so she pestered me until I did it. It was a disaster. I made such a mess of it the first time. My fingers got caught up in her hair, and after I got them loose, it took me hours to brush the tangles out. She looked like a haystack.”
Olivia laughed.
“But I hated disappointing her.” He looked down at his plate. “I used to practice on our horses, brushing and braiding their manes. Eventually, I got really good at it. Tempy would make me sit for hours in front of the fire, tending her hair for her.”
“Aww.” Olivia imagined a sweet little dark-haired boy braiding his little sister’s hair. “That’s so cute.”
“It’s not funny.” Theo shook his head. “When my brother Logan found out, he teased me mercilessly.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any manlier, the Vikings used to braid their hair and their beards all the time. In fact, the more complicated the braid, the more important the man.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re making that up!”
“I’m not.”
“Fine.” Theo resumed eating. “Tell me something from your childhood.”
“I loved swimming,” she said after a moment. “Still do. I love being in the water. I was so good that I was on the swim team in high school and college.”
“Swimming?” Theo repeated.
“Yes, swimming,” she replied. “You know, when you jump in deep water and move your arms and legs so you’re moving through the water and not drowning.”
“Why would anyone want to do that?” His forehead creased.
“Because it’s fun.”
“It doesn’t sound like fun.”
“It is.”
“Water is fun?”
“Yes, water is fun.”
“No.” Theo shook his head. “Water is for bathing.”
“I guess you’ve never been swimming then.”
“Olivia, I grew up on a farm,” he replied.
“I suppose that’s true.” She laughed. “Well, when the weather gets warmer, I’ll teach you in the lake. That’s where I learned.”
“You want me to throw myself in the lake...voluntarily?” he said slowly.
She grinned.
“Uh-huh.”
“May God save me.” He sighed.
He watched as she threw her head back and laughed, and he was enchanted.
It was one of the most beautiful sounds he’d ever heard.
She hadn’t laughed nearly enough in the past weeks; she seemed to carry with her such a deep burden.
But he knew in that moment, hearing her carefree laughter and seeing her beautiful smile, that he would do anything to make her happy, even if it meant throwing himself into the damn lake.
They spent a couple of hours eating and laughing and telling stories from their childhoods. Olivia felt lighter than she had since she’d first returned to Mercy. After a while, Theo excused himself to use the restroom, and Olivia beckoned Jackson over.