Epilogue 1
EPILOGUE 1
Maisie
One Month Later
This parenting gig wasn't easy. There were at least a hundred times over the last month that I was sure I was screwing everything up. Olivia still barely spoke. She attended counseling sessions weekly, but from the little the therapist was able to tell me, they weren't making much progress.
She wanted me to encourage Olivia to talk more at home but I couldn't do it. Everyone was forcing it on her and I wanted to be the one who was different, who stood out from the rest.
Was it the correct thing to do? I didn't have the slightest idea, but our relationship was a constant work in progress.
Olivia's therapist wasn't the only one trying to encourage me to get Olivia to open up. Olivia started her new school just two days after she moved in with me. Academically, she was a great kid but her teacher was concerned for her, socially. My niece had yet to make friends, and other than answering questions when asked, she never spoke.
"Aunt Maisie?" I almost toppled over from spinning around so fast at the sound of Olivia's voice behind me in the kitchen.
"Yeah, sweetie?"
She looked so unsure as she spun the leather bracelet around and around. I didn't rush her. I didn't ask again when the silence continued longer than sociably acceptable. I let Olivia be in charge of how and when she wanted to continue the conversation.
"Do you know Lex's favorite dessert?" she finally asked in a whisper.
I wasn't the least bit shocked by her request. Lex came over almost daily to see her. The two of them never spoke. They just sat in the living room together and watched whatever show or movie Olivia had picked that evening.
"Orange scones, I believe. That seems to be what he orders the most when he comes into the bakery."
I also knew because I started keeping them on hand here at the house so Lex could take one with him when he left at night. He never commented, other than to say thank you as he left.
"Can you show me how to make them for him?"
"Absolutely, sweetie." It was the first time she was initiating anything. I would've given her the world if she asked for it. "Any special reason?"
She was back to playing with the band, so instead of making her uncomfortable by staring at her, I began to collect the ingredients we needed.
"His birthday is tomorrow."
I froze mid reaching for the sugar. I had no idea it was Lex's birthday tomorrow. Hendrix never mentioned it and neither did any of the other guys.
"Oh, I didn't know that. No one said anything. I think it's great you want to make him something for his birthday."
"He doesn't like his birthday. It's the day his parents died, so I thought maybe if I made him his favorite dessert, it would make the day better."
Oh my! My heart broke, not only for my absolutely thoughtful niece, but for the man who didn't let anyone in, except for apparently a sweet eleven-year-old with a shared trauma.
"We'll make the best orange scones Lex has ever tasted. He's really special to you, huh?"
Once I had everything set out on the counter, I motioned for Olivia to join me.
"In the car he told me he lost his parents around my age and that a lot of people would expect me to talk about it, but it was okay if I wasn't ready. That only those who truly cared and loved me would wait until I was ready."
The mystery of Lex was becoming less of a mystery. I was starting to see why Olivia gravitated toward him so much.
I kept my mouth shut and waited to see if Olivia had more to say. She didn't make me wait long.
"Thank you for loving me. I think I'm ready to talk now."
I vowed in that moment to always let Olivia take the lead when it came to how she dealt with her trauma, and I promised to continue making Lex orange scones for the rest of our lives because he knew what my niece needed even when no one else did. And for that, I owed him everything.