He glanced at her. “That’s one of my assistants.
I’ll tell him to drive on ahead to the office. You can drop me off there. We’ll talk on the way.”
“Okay,” she said and watched as he walked over to his truck and spoke to the driver, who then drove off.
“Did you call a locksmith?” Zach asked as he got into the passenger side of her car.
Olivia buckled her seat belt. “He’s come and gone. I feel a lot better now. Well, as good as I can feel about the situation.” She paused. “Zach, there’s 102
Janelle Taylor
something I need to talk over with you. It has to do with the Inner-Beauty Pageant.”
He glanced at her. “What about it?”
Olivia backed out of the driveway and headed toward town. “Someone from the town manager’s office asked me if I’d be interested in coordinating the pageant since the previous coordinator up and left on them. I told her I’d let her know. My answer is dependent on yours.”
“Do you want to coordinate?” he asked. “Sounds like a big job.”
“Well, I do know the ins and outs of the pageant, and Pearl, from the town manager’s office, thinks that my having been an editor at Glitz magazine will add cachet and even greater sponsorship from local businesses. But the main reason I’d want to do it is to get to know Kayla.”
He nodded. “We’d have to tell her that you’re her mother immediately, though. No lies. Just the truth. I wouldn’t want her to get to know you as the coordinator and then have it sprung on her that you’re her long-lost mother.”
Olivia’s entire face lit up. “I agree.”
“We’ll tell her tonight,” he said. “I think we should do it on her turf. Can you come for dinner?
Seven?”
“That would be great,” she said.
He had no idea how Kayla was going to react. He was only grateful that something had forced his hand.
Olivia felt eyes on her in the Eat-In Diner. She glanced around, and indeed people were staring.
HAUNTING OLIV IA
103
Blueberry was a small town and didn’t attract out-siders in the dead of winter. She didn’t recognize many of the diners; she’d only spent two weeks a year in Blueberry and she and her sisters had rarely come to town. They’d spent most of their time at home or at the private beach behind the cottage.
She stood at the counter and ordered a cup of coffee and a cheese Danish to go.
“New here?” asked the waitress, an attractive young woman.
“Just visiting,” Olivia said.
“Visiting whom?” the waitress asked.
“Nosy!” snapped another waitress, an older woman who shooed the younger one away. She turned to Olivia. “Sorry about that, hon,” she added, handing Olivia her coffee and Danish.
Olivia smiled. “No problem.”
As she left, she saw Marnie getting out of her bright red car. The woman didn’t look happy. When she noticed Olivia, her expression changed in a snap.
“Olivia,” Marnie said in what sounded like the fakest I’m-so-happy-to-see-you voice. “How did you sleep last night? I stopped by your house just a few minutes ago to see if you’d made it through the night all right, but you weren’t home. Now I know why! Join me for breakfast?”
Olivia shifted her bag of food from the Eat-In Diner. “I’d love to, but I just got takeout, and I have an appointment. Another time.”
This time Marnie wasn’t as quick with her smile.
“Of course. Another time. I’m disappointed, of course. I would loooove to compare notes about Zach.”
104
Janelle Taylor
“Compare notes?” Olivia repeated.
Marnie grinned. “The former girlfriend and the current girlfriend. Although, you were only teenagers when you dated and it was only for what—a couple of weeks? I know your little summer fling with Zach can hardly be compared to our serious relationship, but I still thought it would be fun to talk shop.”
Summer fling . . . Was that how Zach had described their relationship? And was Marnie and Zach’s relationship serious? Or was Marnie just baiting her?
Oh, for God’s sake, Olivia thought. It’s not like she herself had any claim on the man. And if she were in Marnie’s position, she’d be threatened too.
The old girlfriend comes to town—and Marnie didn’t know the half of it—and of course the new girlfriend would be worried.
“Well,” Marnie continued, “if you’re free for dinner tonight, we could have a girls’ night out.”
Her expression turned teasing, and she leaned close. “I can tell you all about last night. After leaving your house, I stopped by Zach’s to return a T-shirt he’d left at my house the night before, and, oh, my God, we didn’t even make it out of his truck.
Okay, I know this is TMI, but I can still feel the impression of the steering wheel against my back.”
She laughed and rubbed her back.
Way too much information, Marnie.
Olivia wondered if it was true. “I wish I could join you for dinner, but I just made other plans.”
The smile disappeared again, then returned.
“Another time, then.”
“How long have you and Zach been dating?”
Olivia asked before she could stop herself.
She should have stopped herself. First of all, she HAUNTING OLIV IA
105
didn’t want to know. Second of all, she was talking about Zach behind his back, which felt wrong. And third, she was playing right into Marnie’s hands.
But she couldn’t help herself.
Marnie grinned. “Hmm, let’s see. We’ve been a couple since just before Christmas. So, a month.
The holidays were so wonderful this past year. A real family affair. Zach and Kayla came over for Christmas Eve dinner, and then we spent Christmas and New Year’s together. I wouldn’t be surprised if he surprised me with a ring for Valentine’s Day.”
Olivia’s back went up. Were they that serious?
“Have you and Zach talked about getting engaged?” Olivia asked. Perhaps Zach and Marnie had talked about blending their families. Perhaps Marnie had been a mother figure to Kayla this past month.
Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. Speculating was stupid.
She should just ask Zach what was going on. The problem was, she barely felt entitled. Yes, Kayla was her daughter. And Olivia had missed out on Kayla’s entire life through no intention of her own. But Olivia couldn’t just waltz into Kayla’s life after thirteen years and demand to be mom. It didn’t work that way.
Marnie glanced at her watch. “Ooh, I’d better run, actually. Let’s make plans to get together soon.”
Olivia smiled, and Marnie headed inside the diner.
Evasive. Interesting. Olivia doubted there was talk of engagement or Marnie would have told her all about it. I think I can still feel the impression of the steering wheel against my back. . . .
Which meant that that little we-didn’t-make-it-106
Janelle Taylor
out-of-his-truck episode was very likely true, Olivia thought, her stomach flip-flopping.
Olivia crossed the boulevard, glancing back at the diner. Through the plate-glass window she could see Marnie watching her.
Creepy. Maybe Marnie was responsible for last night’s welcome to Blueberry surprise. Or perhaps Johanna was, she thought, as she passed the sweater shop. She glanced in to find Johanna folding sweaters. The woman did not look happy.
Pearl’s words came back to her. His fiancée? He dated a different woman every time he came up here. . . .
Olivia wouldn’t have thought that possible—for one woman to believe she was a man’s one and only when he was clearly playing the field. Johanna was either deluded, believed what she wanted to believe, or William was just that good of a liar. Olivia knew that last one was dead-on.
The wind picked up, and Olivia zipped up her coat.
She passed a pickup tr
uck—not Zach’s—and immediately envisioned Marnie straddled on Zach’s lap in the driver’s seat.
She squeezed her eyes shut to shake the image.
Focus, Olivia, she told herself. You need blinds for the bathroom. You need something to bring for tonight’s dinner. Dessert? She glanced across the street. There was a hardware store just a few shops up from a bakery and the General Store.
At least she’d easily fulfill her receipts quota. She headed into the hardware store and estimated the measurements; she’d had so much on her mind this morning that she’d forgotten to look for a tape measure. After dropping off the heavy carton in her car, she continued on down the boulevard on HAUNTING OLIV IA
107
foot, thinking about what she’d contribute to tonight’s dinner with Zach and Kayla. A dessert, definitely. And she’d bake it herself, from scratch.
I wish I knew what Kayla’s favorite flavor is. I don’t even know what my own child is allergic to.
Chocolate cream pie and apple pie were her favorites and seemed safe, so she entered the General Store and filled a shopping basket with everything she’d need.
As she debated about ice cream, she felt eyes on her and turned around. A woman she’d never seen before was staring at her, her expression . . . angry?
No, that wasn’t quite right. Olivia couldn’t quite place it. She was in her midthirties, attractive, but dressed like a teenager in a tiny pink jacket and tight jeans with rhinestones and embroidery that read “HOT!” dotting the pockets and hem. She had shoulder-length blond hair and bangs, a rhinestone clip holding back one swath of hair above her ear.
“Hi,” Olivia said, trying to summon a smile.
The woman didn’t respond. She simply turned and walked away. Olivia stepped back to see where she went; the woman had left the store and was walking fast down the street.
Creepy, Olivia thought. Perhaps she’s one of the women her father dated and, like Johanna, thought Olivia a heartless opportunist.
Yup, Daddy dearest, all my dreams are coming true, all right, she thought as she brought her basket to the checkout counter.
She froze. All your dreams will come true. . . .
She only ever had one dream, albeit for just a short while, that she and Zach would run away together and raise their baby.
108
Janelle Taylor
Her father knew that Zach and Kayla were living in Blueberry. He’d been sending Kayla birthday cards and Christmas cards in Olivia’s name for years. William Sedgwick had known exactly where they were all these years.
Why had he chosen now to let Olivia learn the truth? Why after he was gone? Had he not wanted to deal with the fallout of what he’d done? Olivia couldn’t imagine he’d care one way or another who was angry at him. Perhaps he worried about legalities.
Olivia, again full of questions with no answers—
and no way to get answers—lugged her heavy basket atop the checkout counter.
She would definitely pay a visit to the home for pregnant teenagers where she’d spent seven long months. Have a little chat with a certain doctor and nurse. Thirteen years wasn’t too long ago. There was a good chance both were still there.
How much had their lies been worth? Olivia wondered as the clerk rang up her purchases. A lot, she imagined.
Receipts safely tucked in her purse, she headed back to her car with her bag of groceries.
She stopped dead in her tracks.
“Rich bitch” was written in marker on the passenger-side window of her car. And two of the tires were slashed—on the passenger side. Whoever had done it had been blocked from view by the hedges that lined that edge of the lot.
The “HOT!” blonde in the general store immediately flashed into her mind. So did Marnie. And Johanna.
Which one of you is doing this? Or is it someone who has yet to let me know what he or she thinks of me? More HAUNTING OLIV IA
109
furious than scared, as she’d been last night, she pulled out her cell phone to call the police. She asked to speak with the officer who’d been at the cottage last night.
“Someone sure doesn’t like you,” the officer said.
“What did you do to anger someone to that degree, anyway?”
Jerk. “I didn’t do anything,” she said.
“Well, you’ve pissed off someone.”
“I thought I was the victim here,” Olivia snapped.
“Someone will be out in a few minutes,” the officer said and hung up.
She wouldn’t be surprised to find out the ever-so-concerned officer was Marnie’s cousin.
Chapter 9
Zach was pleased to see Kayla doing her homework when he arrived back at the house after work.
He’d collected her assignments from the principal and warned Kayla that if she didn’t do her school-work, there would be no Inner-Beauty Pageant.
“Yay, pizza!” she said, eyeing the two big boxes he’d set down on the kitchen counter. “Wow, you must be hungry.”
“Actually, we’re having company for dinner,” he said, walking toward her.
“Not Marnie and Bri-asshole again,” she said, glaring.
Zach stopped dead in his tracks. “Kayla!”
“Sorry,” she said. Without meaning it. He’d add another day of being grounded to her already packed month, but given the bombshell that was going to change her life tonight, he couldn’t bear to.
“And no, it’s not Marnie and Brianna. It’s the woman you saw yesterday morning in town, the one with the blond hair—”
“The beautiful one,” Kayla said, perking up. “So HAUNTING OLIV IA
111
you’re dating her now? Did you dump Marnie for her?”
I am so out of my element, Zach thought. Out of his element with Kayla and her constant questions and certainly out of his element with the emotions and questions tonight would bring. Which was why he’d opted to pick up pizza instead of cook something fancy. He had no doubt there would be more talking done tonight than eating.
“We’re not dating,” he said. “Come help set the table, please.”
She surprised him by jumping up and heading into the kitchen for the silverware and plates. “Why is she coming, then?”
Zach stiffened. He needed to tell Kayla the truth now. Before Olivia arrived. His daughter deserved to hear the truth of her history from him; to have Olivia there as she learned the story would be overwhelming. And Kayla would need some time to digest what she heard. “Sweetheart, I have to make a quick phone call. Can you finish setting the table?”
She nodded and got to work and Zach headed outside with his cell phone. He pressed in the phone number for the Sedgwick house, a number he’d never forgotten. He’d only dialed it once before, when he was seventeen and in love. King Sedgwick had asked his name.
“Archer? It’s not ringing a bell,” William had said.
“My father is a mechanic at Joe’s Auto Repair.”
There had been silence. And then, “Don’t call here again. Olivia is not permitted to date while she’s visiting.” And then he had hung up.
That was his first conversation with William 112
Janelle Taylor
Sedgwick. There had been one other, when he’d learned about his daughter. When William’s lackey had placed her in Zach’s arms.
Zach paced the front yard, hoping Olivia hadn’t already left.
“Hello?”
“Olivia,” he said. “I’m glad I caught you. Look, I think it’s best if I tell Kayla about you myself. It’s been just the two of us her entire life, and to spring the truth on her with you there strikes me as incredibly overwhelming. I hadn’t thought of that before.”
“That’s true,” she said. “I think you’re right.”
“Give us an hour,” he said. “I think after hearing what I have to say, she’ll want to see you, even if it’s just for a few minutes. She’ll need to see that you’re real.”
“I couldn’t agree mor
e,” Olivia said. “It says quite a lot about you as a father.”
He was silent for a moment. “See you later, then.”
He put the phone back in his pocket, took one hell of a deep breath, and then headed back inside. It had been a long time since he had felt this nervous.
Oh, boy, Zach thought as he walked into the dining room and saw what Kayla had done. Lit can-dles on the table. A lace tablecloth. Dim lighting.
She was wearing a dress. And her hair, which was usually in her face, was pulled back by a pretty clip.
“Kayla, I want to ask you something,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to the living room.
They sat down on the sofa.
“What, Dad?”
“It’s more than clear by the romantic table and HAUNTING OLIV IA
113
your good-girl appearance that you’re hoping this dinner will mean Marnie’s out and that a new woman is in.”
“Am I that obvious?” she asked, smiling.
He gently yanked her hair. “Yes. But. And there’s a big but. Let’s say I do fall for someone other than Marnie. Let’s say we—whoever it is—start seeing each other. Will you have a problem with that relationship too? Or is it just Marnie you have problems with?”
She glanced down at her feet. “I don’t know,” she said, and her eyes welled with tears. “You’re all I have. I don’t want to share you.”
There was no better segue. He pulled her close and hugged her, stroking her fine hair. “Sweetheart, I understand that. I really do. I know it must be hard. Listen, I need to tell you something. Something very important.”
She wiped away her tears. “What?”
“It’s about your mother.”
Kayla stared at him. “What about my mother?”
Here goes. He looked at his daughter, his precious girl, and knew that he was about to change her entire world. For the better, he knew, but for a thirteen-year-old, this was going to be mind-blowing.
“Kayla, the woman you saw me talking to yesterday, the one who’s coming over tonight . . . she’s your mother.”
Her mouth dropped open. “She’s my mother?”
He nodded. “Olivia Sedgwick.”
Kayla jumped up and stared at him. “She came back for me?”
Haunting Olivia Page 9
