- 4.
<
44)
I hadn’t expected her illness to be real, let alone
terminal. My world turned gray. I hid my grief, sneaking cigarettes to cope. Olivia always found me. I proposed, partly for my mom, partly for myself. I expected her to agree, she’d always been kind, but I wasn’t prepared for how quickly she said yes. After the wedding, she offered to move back in with Mom. See? My girl was kind and thoughtful. Mom’s health declined rapidly. Those months were the hardest of my
life. Olivia’s presence was a lifeline. We tried
everything, but Mom passed away. I held it
together until Olivia hugged me, and then I
broke down. I was terrified she’d ask for a
divorce. Then I really would have nothing left.
But she didn’t. She said she’d stay with me. I
still had her. We had a beautiful daughter, a tiny
version of Olivia. I named her Evelyn. Olivia
asked what it meant. I smiled. “It wasn’t too
late to find you again.”
