way he wanted. “Do you think you could stay with her at my warehouse? Instead of taking her to yours?” His voice lowered. “I don’t want her to think she’s been kidnapped twice.”
Olive sniffed, her energy levels quickly slipping into sadness, knowing her happily-ever-after of going home with her father wouldn’t come true. “I don’t want to go home with him. I want to go home with you.” Her grey eyes snapped fiercely to Gil, her hand squeezing hard around mine.
Gil sighed sadly. “And I want to go home with you. And we will.” His attention shot to the CPS agents watching us with suspicion. He dared them to refute his claim about going home.
Gil might’ve saved Olive but he’d lost any right to keep her.
I thought he’d have more time before they tried to take her away from him.
It wasn’t fair.
What would happen now?
Who would have custody while he was arrested and put on trial for a murder that he did commit? A murder that would come with prison time.
I froze as the future unravelled before me. Gil in jail. Olive with foster parents. A lifetime of broken families. We weren’t just talking about a few days here; we were talking about Olive’s entire livelihood.
She can’t be allowed to leave with them.
Justin followed the same path I did. His harsh inhale wrenched everyone’s attention to him. He looked at Olive with a pained expression, wanting to talk frankly but aware that word selection had to be careful.
“Clark...” He cleared his throat. “Um, seeing as your hospital stay might be longer than a few days...” His hand shook as he rubbed his mouth. “And we all know how slow doctors can be...” He looked at me, seeking support, refusing to look at the agents. “Perhaps we should arrange a longer-term arrangement for Olive than just a few days.”
The agents crossed their arms, tapping their feet.
Olive narrowed her eyes, trying to follow the cryptic conversation.
I deciphered it and my heart sank further. Seeing as you’re arrested and we all know how slow court dates and hearings can take, Olive needs a caregiver for the next few weeks at least. And longer if you’re convicted. These CPS agents can’t be allowed to take her. Who knows if you’ll ever get her back.
Gil’s whitewashed face turned a greenish hue. He rested on the edge of the bed as he buried his hands in his hair, tugging hard as the ramifications crashed into him. “Oh, God.” He looked as if he’d be sick.
I wanted to go to him. To rub his back. To assure him he wouldn’t lose her for the second time.
But if I did, I’d fall into the same pattern.
The pattern I was trying to break.
The pattern you’re stuck in now that you’ve offered to care for Olive.
“What? What is it?” Olive asked.
I pulled her into my side. “Nothing. Your father is just sad he can’t come home with you for a while.” Turning her to face me, I added, giving her options, giving myself options where I could still leave and not be linked to Gil, “Justin has the coolest place, and you can stay with him for a bit. It’s probably best if you stay with him.” I smiled as wide as I could. “He’s your godfather, after all. He’s kind of like an angel who will look after you. It will be fun. A little holiday.”
Olive’s eyes welled with fresh tears. “But I don’t want a holiday. I want to go home.”
“How about I come stay at your place then?” Justin offered. “It will be a holiday for me, instead.”
She cried harder. “I just want to go home with my dad.”
I hugged her close, my heart a bleeding ruin.
Gil looked into me, his stare piercing and full of so many troubled, hurting things. He nodded in thanks while I rocked his most precious belonging.
My stomach knotted.
My heart pounded in answer to his gratefulness, his sorrow.
God, what a mess.
“Look, we can discuss the fine print in a few days when emotions aren’t running so high.” The redhead tried to pry Olive out of my arms. “Just give us Olive, and we’ll ensure she’s well taken care of—”
“No!” Olive’s little hand slipped into mine again, deepening the bond between us that’d formed from dark forests and her father’s blood. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”
I stood, keeping Olive’s hand tight in mine. “I think it’s best if you come back later.”
“We can’t leave until we’re sure Olive’s living arrangements are satisfactory.”
“Can...can