Page 50 of Baby, It’s You (Clairesville #1)

Hunter

I woke up this morning feeling strange. I didn’t feel anxious or sad, just kind of like something ominous is coming. I even spent an extra thirty minutes working out to try and shake off the bad feeling, but still it remains.

The past few weeks I’ve done everything I can think of to help Olive.

I hope each time I see her that a little bit of healing will show through.

That there will be a hint of the woman she was before still in there.

But I think I’ve lost her. She seems completely shut off from me; she never tries to touch me or look at me.

She glances at me, but her stare goes right through me. I can tell her mind is always far away.

I hear a tap on my window and look up to see Mrs. Sonjia Ray knocking on it. She smiles brightly as I roll down the window.

“I thought that was you!” she greets me warmly. Her outfit is colorful with long and flowy layers; she looks like a woodland fairy or Mother Nature, like Olive said.

“Hi, Mrs. Ray.” I grin back.

“Sonjia,” she corrects me, still smiling.

I nod my head. “You’ve got it.” I then remember that Jane was her best friend. I meet her eyes and add, “I’m so sorry about Jane.”

Mrs. Sonjia looks off at the mountains past me. “Yes, well, I’m lucky to have had a friend like her. Losing her doesn’t take away the many magical years we had. She was a real gem.”

I look at my steering wheel and rub my finger over the stitching, not sure what else to say.

“How is Olive?” Mrs. Sonjia asks. “I’m here to visit her.”

“She’s struggling, I can tell.” I feel like there’s a frog in my throat. “She will be happy to see you, though.”

“I brought her some butter.” Mrs. Sonjia pulls a large mason jar full of fresh butter out of her bag and winks at me.

“Well, if anything can make her feel better, your butter will.” I chuckle.

“How are you doing, Hunter?”

“I’m great,” I quickly say, my go-to people-pleasing response.

She stares deeply at me. I feel like she’s reading my mind. “Tell me the truth, it’s okay. I see a sadness in your eyes, too.”

I blow out a breath. “I’m really worried about Olive and honestly, I’m worried about losing her. I feel her trying to cut me out of her life.” I look down at my lap as I confess. “I need her.”

“You love her,” she says in understanding.

“Very much.”

“Tell her.”

“I don’t think it’s the right time,” I respond. “She’s dealing with so much.”

“There’s never a wrong time for love,” Mrs. Sonjia tells me. “You were put in her life for a reason; I just know it.”

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

She holds out her hand to me. I reach across my car window and take it. Her wrinkled hand is comforting. She squeezes mine. “You have a good heart, Hunter. Your dad would be proud of you.”

I draw my hand back at the statement, shocked by what she just said. I’m suddenly wondering if Mrs. Sonjia is psychic, when she laughs warmly. “Olive and I talk. She mentions you a lot more than you realize.” She winks at me. “Tell her.”

This push of confidence from Mrs. Sonjia is what I needed to make up my mind. Next time I see Olive, I will put my heart on the line.