"Heard you on the phone before, Olivia ," I admitted. I know you were calling friends, and no one was available to help you."
"Oh... you listened in on my private conversations, did you?"
"I couldn't help it. Besides, I knew you would act as if everything was fine, even if it wasn't."
"I still have a few more friends I can call. Someone will be able to help out."
"Okay, I'll make a deal with you," I offered as I strolled over to where she sat. I sat on the couch next to her.
"What kind of deal?"she asked?
"If you get someone to come and help you, I go. But I mean, really help, not just dump a bag of groceries on your doorstep or give you a five- minutes Visit. If you don't, I'll stick around and help you and Noah." she looked at me as if I said something very difficult to do or nobody had done it before
"Why are you looking at me like that, Olivia? Don't you think I can do whatever needs to be done around here?" I asked quietly,
"No...it's not that,"" she replied with a shake of her head. "It's just that you don't need to stay here just because you feel guilty."
"You've already told me that. I'm not staying just because I feel guilty, okay?"
"What about your life back in New York? How can you afford to miss so much time away from your office?"
"The place won't fall apart without me, as much as I hate to admit it." I smiled at her. Besides, once I can get out to my car, I have everything I need to stay in touch with the office--a cell phone, notebook computer, modem hookup for e-mail and all that." At least she'd think about my work not being selfish, I'd love her for that.
"Of course. I should have known," she replied
"Yes, you should have," I replied as I the puzzle look on her face. I put a pillo on the coffee table and then leaned over and raised her injured leg so that it was comfortably propped up.
"What are you doing? she asked in alarmed I looked down at her ankle. "It still looks pretty swollen. We ought to get over to the doctor first thing tomorrow. I really think you need an X ray." I said As I messaged her leg.
"I hate to go to the doctor," she admitted.
laughed lightly. "I had a feeling you might say that. I continued gently massaging her leg. I'll take care of any bills, don't worry, I told her.
She took my hand off her leg. "That won't be necessary," she said
"We'll see." I sat back and continue looking steadily at her. "You know, I've heard it sad that sometimes people come into one s life for a reason...to teach us a lesson."
She smirked at me. "Don't tell me. you've been sent into my life to teach me not to open the door in.the middle of the night to strangers?"
I laughed at the reminder of our first encounter
"No, not at all. I think l'm here to teach you to accept help a little more...graciously."
"Oh." She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.
"And what am I supposed to be teaching you,Brian?" she asked.
I shrugged. ""Maybe I need to learn not to jump to assumptions about people...or something like that."
Suddenly fascinated by a curling, wayward lock of her hair, I flipped it back from her cheek with one fingertip.
She swallowed hard and looked away from me "Well, Noah will be happy to hear you're staying longer," she said,
"He's quite a kid," I said sincerely. Very intelligent, smart and lively. Am going to miss him alot."
"Thank you Olivia said. "I think so," she admitted.
I really what know more about him, about his father, though the private investigator I hired told me she left home when she was seventeen, I want to know why, and I don't think I can hide my curiosity any longer " Tell me about him." I found myself asking her without giving it much thought as eased back, relaxing against the backrest.
She shrugged "what do you want to know?"
"Everything," I replied with an encouraging nod. "It must have been hard for you, raising him alone.