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When her father finally spoke, his voice was low and a touch broken. “Why would you lie to us about that, Olivia?”
“I didn’t mean to lie, Daddy. I didn’t want you guys to worry. Cam was handling it, and honestly, I think I was in denial for a while that it was such a big deal.”
Now his gaze sliced my way. “And is it? A big deal?”
“Yes, sir. The threats are as personal as they come so I believe they are viable. But you have my word that full security measures have been put into place for both Olivia and Elizabeth and I am not going anywhere until the problem is eliminated.”
Several heavy breaths passed between the four of us as they digested everything she’d just laid on them. Her mom reached over and took her free hand, her eyes teary. Her father kept his gaze locked on mine, measuring me up with new eyes.
“So,” he said, “this whole dating thing... was that just made up for our benefit then?”
“Yes,” Olivia replied, shooting me a quick glance. “At first.”
Her parents exchanged another confused look.
“At first?” Her mother sounded almost afraid to be hopeful.
“We started out by telling people he was an old friend,” she explained. “Then we came up with the dating story for you guys that day at church.” She shrugged. “Somewhere along the way I just... fell for him.”
You could’ve heard a pin drop in that room, and I’d swear my heart fell to my toes hearing her say those words out loud. She echoed every one of the things I’d been thinking and feeling but hadn’t had the courage to say out loud because I was still wrestling with the reality of what all that might mean. I was struck yet again with the fact that Olivia was the strongest woman I’d ever known. Probably stronger than me.
Her mom about swooned, smiling like she was over the moon.
Meanwhile, her father’s brows shot to his hairline. “You just met the man!”
She tilted her head at him. “Are you seriously saying that to me right now? After all the years of bragging about how you fell in love with Mom on your first date and asked her to marry you a month later?”
He harrumphed and looked away, then back, mumbling under his breath about how that was different, but it was clear he knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on.
“She’s right, dear,” her mom said. “As long as she’s happy, what does it matter? You are happy, right, sweetie?”
Olivia looked over at me, catching me in those honey eyes. “Stupid happy... which is crazy, considering everything going on.”
I bit back a smile because I understood exactly. Her father was right. We’d only known each other about a month. That was no time in the scheme of things, but just like the fast and furious nature of combat, we had no control of the untethered emotions that had thundered down on us as we weathered this intense situation together in such close quarters. Plus, as I was learning from comparing past to present experience, if you listen, the heart knows what it knows.
Her mother gave us the quintessential mom look. “That’s wonderful, sweetheart. I’m just sorry it has to be under these circumstances.”
I opened my mouth to reassure her again that I had everything under control, but the pounding of little feet distracted me as Elizabeth came roaring into the room and collided into my legs.
“Man Jusin!” She grinned up at me with her arms raised, asking to be picked up.
Something turned over in my heart at the sight, and unable to resist her, I lifted her to my lap.
“Sorry,” Camden strolled in behind her, looking not sorry at all. “She was getting antsy in there, wondering where you guys were.”
“It’s fine,” Olivia said.
Elizabeth set about toying with a button on my shirt and I did nothing to stop her, instead letting myself run a quick hand over her curls.
“Well, you and Lizzie Bear certainly seem to be thick as thieves,” Fred said.
I glanced up at him before shifting to look at Olivia, who was smiling at us with such a look of contentment on her face I was momentarily taken aback. Was this what having a family felt like? I’d always hoped before, but the feeling had eluded me, even during the best times with Tricia.
I swallowed back the sudden lump of emotion in my throat. “Like I said... it was the apple juice.”
He laughed but something in his expression shifted as he took me in with his granddaughter. “Why don’t you ladies go with Camden to join everyone in the living room,” Fred suggested. “Give me a moment to have a word with Justin, then we’ll be right behind you.”
As if sensing a guy thing was about to happen, the women cleared out, toddler in tow, and Camden offered me only a tip of his head, silently indicating I was on my own with his dad.