“I couldn’t bear to live without you. I loved you, as much as my brother did.”
For Olivia, things become clearer. “How long have you been having the dreams?”
“For quite some time. When I walked into the restaurant and saw you for the first time…well, I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You don’t really need to. You, me, Ethan…We’ve all experienced it.”
“I thought I was losing my mind.”
Olivia lets out a small laugh, understanding a little too well what he means. “So, what do we do now?”
Carter takes a deep breath and pauses. “We try to save him.”
“Carter?” she says sleepily.
“Hmm?”
“Will you take me to get the Hellcat tomorrow? I need to go downtown.”
When Olivia rolls the Hellcat to a stop, out the front of the century old building, Eva is waiting for her outside.
“I expected you sooner,” she says, turning and walking toward the door.
“I’ve been a little… laid up.”
Eva sits and motions for Olivia to sit across from her. “The universe can be a complicated place,” she begins.
Olivia bites her lip, watching her shuffle cards and fidget with candles. Finally losing her patience, she leans forward and cuts the deck. Slamming it down on the table, she glares at Eva. “How about we skip the bullshit, lady.”
Eva widens her eyes, surprised at her outburst.
“For months, you pushed us together. Convincing me that we’re soul mates, bound together. Trust him, he won’t fail you, you said.”
“Yes, child. That is all true. He is your soul mate. You are meant to be together,” Eva says calmly.
“Then what the fuck just happened?” She pulls three cards out of the pile and leaves them face down. “What do I need to know about my marriage?”
Eva turns them over and sits silently: Pregnancy, The Lovers, Death.
“You promised me, that this time, nobody was going to die,” Olivia says agitated. A thought flashes through her mind. “Wait. Did Ethan make you tell me that?”
Eva gets to her feet and moves around the room, lighting incense and avoiding Olivia’s glare.
“Eva? Answer me.”
“The death card doesn’t always mean death. It means an ending. In this case, it most likely means the end of a relationship.”
“End of our relationship. I thought we were supposed to be together in this life. The universe won’t be denied love, remember?”
Carrying a small candle, she returns to her seat. “Sometimes, we have to get lost, in order to find our true self.”
“Sometimes, I think you spend too much time drinking whiskey and searching Google for useless, omniscient sayings.” Olivia picks three more cards and waits. “If it’s true, if we are really and truly soul mates, how do I stop history from repeating itself?”
The High Priestess, reversed Justice, The Tower.
Eva scoops the cards up and stuffs them back in the deck. “Your choices govern your fate line. What you’re doing now is what’s guiding it.”
“I’m guessing, by your reaction, that you didn’t like what those cards suggested.”
“There’s nothing there you don’t already know; a struggle, an imbalance of justice. The strong woman in charge of the destiny.”
“And you believe that I am that woman?”
“I do. The cards only show you the path you’re currently on. They cannot predict any change in course affected by free will.”
“I can change this?”
“You are the key. This is your journey.” Eva leans across the table and places her hand on top Olivia’s. “If you don’t like where it’s leading, then make a change. Do something different. Exercise free will. You can create a new path, but first you have to believe that you deserve a better destiny.”
Olivia’s face becomes flushed. “That’s a lot to think about,” she says, getting to her feet.
Eva grabs her hand. A pained expression washes over her face. “When, and only when, the universe has made things right, will the higher powers gift you with a child.”
Olivia pulls her hand away, frightened. “I need to go now.” Needing air, she quickly makes her way toward the door.
“Find that place within you, emotionally, where you’re receptive to giving and receiving vibrations from the universe. Look for signs. The universe will send you signs.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Olivia jumps every time the courtroom door opens. She takes one last look around the room.
“Olivia. He’s not coming,” Carter confirms regretfully.
She folds her hands in her lap, looking sorrowful.
Megan frowns and looks over at Carter. “I wanna kill him,” she mouths.
Olivia is called to testify and takes a deep breath. She answers the questions, to the best of her ability, but there are still a lot of blank holes in her memory. After a brief break, they’re called back into court for the verdict.
“In the case of break and entering, we find the defendant not guilty.”
Megan lowers her brow and looks annoyed.
“They couldn’t place him at the scene. No evidence,” Olivia explains.
“In the case of domestic assault, we find the defendant guilty.
They leave the courthouse and take Megan straight to the airport.
“I can’t believe they let him off with three years probation and no jail time,” Megan says, from the back seat of the car.
“To be honest, I’m not really sure how to feel about it,” Olivia admits. “I’m glad that it’s over with, but I still don’t feel safe.”
“You own the restaurant now,” Carter reminds her.
“Huh?”
“Travis and the security team; they all work for you. If you’re not feeling safe, use them.”
“Oh.” Olivia twiddles her fingers restlessly in her lap. “Have you talked to Ireland today?”
Carter nods and tries to disguise a daunted look.
“You messaged him as soon as we left the courtroom, didn’t you?”
Carter’s jaw tenses
“So, Dave said no flying?” Megan asks, noting the tension in the front seat.
“Sorry, Meg. He said I lost a lot of blood and my body is still recovering. Right now, my blood pressure is too low.”
“I can’t stand to leave you alone, especially today.”
“I’m not alone. Have you seen the Australian mountain in the driver’s seat?”
“Nice try, but I know he’s leaving in a couple of days.”
“Noah is just around the corner.”
Carter grips the steering wheel tightly. “I’d rather if you didn’t call on him for anything.”
Olivia scowls. “You’d rather, or O’Connell?”
“I’d rather,” he growls. “Something about that guy irks me.”
“What is it with you Aurora Tech guys? Fine! Scott and Rachel are just down the road,” she reminds them.
“Why do you always have to pretend to be so strong?” Megan asks sadly.
“I don’t think she’s pretending,” Carter adds.
“Still,” Megan objects. “It’s okay to be vulnerable sometimes.”
“Vulnerable women don’t survive,” Olivia says softly.
Carter reaches over and stills her hands.
“Well, I’m sorry to have to say this, but there was a time when my sister, the strong one, would have been on her way to Ireland to either get her husband back or kick his ass for breaking her heart.”
Shock spreads over Olivia’s face as she slowly turns to look at her sister. Carter squeezes her hands tighter.
“That’s right,” Meg continues, agitated. “I said it.”
Standing at the entrance to security, Megan says her goodbyes. “I’m sorry for what I said in the car, Liv.”
Olivia shrugs. “It’s okay. I suppose it’s true.”
“I love you.” Meg pulls her into an
other hug.
Carter looks uncomfortable when she throws her arms around him. “Goodbye, Carter. Thank you for looking after my sister.” Her voice starts to crack, and she blinks rapidly trying to hold back the tears.
“You’re welcome.”
“You know, you could always drive my sister out to my place. It’s only a couple days by car. Then you can fly out to Australia from Halifax.”
“NO,” Olivia interrupts. “I’m fine.”
Carter looks at his watch. “You better get moving.”
The girls exchange one last hug and an extended glance before Meg leaves through the security doors.
A baby begins to cry and Olivia turns toward the sound. A young dad sways with her in his arms, trying to soothe her. He paces, talking to her in calm, nurturing tone. “There you go. No more crying. Daddy’s got you,” he says, as he places a kiss on her head. She settles and looks up at him with a bright smile.
Olivia smoothes her hand over her stomach. Her heart feels a sharp sting, like she’s just taken a knife to the chest.
Carter watches in agony as her tears slowly roll down her cheeks. She quickly reaches into her pocket for a tissue and takes a calming breath. “Can we go home now?”
“Of course.”
Thinking that she’s gone to lie down, Carter makes a call. Olivia sits in the corner chair in Ethan’s bedroom, not really interested in having a rest. She can hear Carter on the phone. The conversation becomes louder and more impassioned. She cracks open the door and shamelessly listens. Carter argues and reasons, then becomes completely enraged. Slamming the door behind him, he heads to the living room and turns on the TV.
Olivia slowly makes her way down the stairs and over to the chair. Carter looks up at her hazel eyes, clouded with tears, and sighs. She gently climbs onto his lap and lays her head against his chest. “He’s not coming back to me, is he?”
“No, Olivia. It doesn’t look like it.”
He holds her tightly and lets her cry until she can’t anymore. When the sun rises in the morning, she opens her eyes feeling hung over.
“What are you doing?” Carter asks, when she climbs out of his arms.
“Going to work.”
He sits up, twisting his neck to work out the kinks. “Is that a good idea? Are you up to it?”
“I can’t sit here playing the victim for the rest of my life. I need to do something.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. There’s someone I need to see before I leave to go home.”
“Kate?”
Carter looks at her, feeling awkward. “Yes.”
“Do you love her?”
Carter avoids the question.
“Carter. Do you love her?”
“I think I might.”
Olivia smiles. “Then don’t fuck it up.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“Why are here with me?”
“You are, and always will be, my first priority.”
“Are you fucking stupid?”
A look of confusion washes over his face.
“If you love her, then she needs to be your first priority. There’s no way in hell I’m going to be the other woman that fucks it all up. That shit is not acceptable. Get your ass home to your woman. She needs to be your only priority for fuck’s sake. I can look after myself.”
Carter grins. “And that, is why we love you.”
“Blah, blah, blah. Don’t go getting all mushy on me, Brant.”
Carter makes his way to the door and turns. “I’m glad to see you’re feeling like your old self.”
“Get out.”
Olivia stands at Rachel’s office door, waiting for acknowledgement.
“Would you please give me something challenging to work on?” she begs, when Rachel finally looks up.
“Give her the Silva project.”
Olivia turns to find Jeremiah Dunn standing behind her, smiling.
“Gladly.” Rachel digs through a stack of folders and passes it to her. “Welcome home.”
Jeremiah smiles. “We’ve missed you.”
“I’ll get started on this right away,” Olivia says excitedly, heading back to her office.
“Olivia?”
She turns to see Jeremiah’s concerned look. “Are you okay?”
She nods. “Right as rain, boss.”
Out in the Irish countryside, Shannon curses, stumbling through the darkness. “Tell me again why we are meeting him way out here?” Shannon asks, as she carefully treads through the mud.
“This is where he’s been living.”
“It’s a trailer, John.”
“I know that, Shannon.”
“Why is he living here?”
“He says it’s because he needs to keep an eye on the progress of the house.”
“Is he still going to build it?”
“He says so, but there’s been no construction crew on this property since he came back.”
“So he’s living here because he can’t stand to be in the flat in Dublin without her.”
John holds out his hand, steadying her as she takes the last few steps out of the mud and on to the step. “That’s my guess.”
“Why couldn’t we meet at the office?” she asks, banging the dirt off her shoes.
“Aiden.”
“Ah.”
“He’s completely shut him out since he came back home.”
“Does he have Internet or satellite out here.”
“I’m pretty sure he does, why?”
“I wondered if he already knows.”
John knocks on the thin aluminum door of the on-site trailer and then pushes it open. “We’re about to find out.”
“Hello, Ethan?” Shannon calls out. “He knew we were coming, right?”
“He did.”
A cluttering sound comes from the back of the trailer, and he stumbles down the dark hallway. “Sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”
Shannon grimaces at the sight of him. “Here.” Shannon hands him the take out bag. “I brought you dinner.”
He nods, pushing aside the empty whisky bottles on the counter to make room for the bag.
“When was the last time you ate?” she asks curiously.
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “I haven’t felt much like eating.”
John and Shannon share a concerned look. “When will you be back to working in your office at O’Connell Industries?” Shannon asks.
“When hell freezes over.”
“Ethan,” John begins. “Sit down a minute, we have a few things to go over with you.”
Ethan stumbles to the sitting area and plops himself down on a broken chair. “Well then? What’s so important that you’ve come all the way out here? Have you got some good news for me for a change? That would be fucking brilliant.”
“Well, we finally got the banking information. The money transferred into Jessica’s account has been coming from Reese.”
Ethan’s brow furrows, then raises in surprise. “That makes no sense. Why would Reese be sending her such large amounts of money?”
“We’ve checked the records and the account three times. The money was sent by Reese Wilson.”
Ethan scratches his head. “Well, you had a nice chat with him a few weeks ago, Shannon. What did he say?”
“He said he never had an affair with Jessica.”
“And yet he’s transferred her… how much?” He picks up the paper and looks for the total.
“Almost twenty-five thousand dollars.”
“Why?”
“I hope to find that out tomorrow.”
“Have you checked your messages?”
“No, not today.”
Shannon frowns. “Have you been watching the news?”
“No.”
Not knowing how to cushion it, John just throws it out there. “Jessica had the baby.”
“Oh?”
“It’s a boy,” Shannon adds, tapping her foot impatiently. “Just thought you should know.”
> Ethan shrugs. “Is there anything else?”
“Actually, Yes there is,” Shannon says flustered.
John rubs his hand on his chin. “Oh boy, here it comes.”
“Why the hell are you not in Canada with your wife?”
Ethan gets up and walks to the counter. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Picking up a dirty glass, he pours himself a drink.
“What’s wrong with you?” Shannon asks exasperated. “You’re obviously miserable without her.”
“You know nothing about me, Miss Quinn.”
Shannon takes the glass out of his hand and dumps the booze in the sink. “Oh, you’re wrong about that, Mr. O’Connell. I know everything about you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, you’re an asshole.”
“Shannon!” John gasps.
She ignores him and continues, “If you think that there’s another woman in this world that would put up with your bullshit, you’re sadly mistaken. She’s your only chance at being loved.”
“That’s enough,” John warns.
“Let it go, John,” Ethan says despondently. “She’s right.”
Shannon gets a lump in her throat. His tortured look softens her anger. “Ethan, please. Go get her, bring her home.”
He leans against the counter, his fingers gripping tightly on the edge. “I can’t fix it for her.”
Shannon moves closer, placing her hand on his arm.
“Everybody hates me. I’m a complete disaster. The family fuck-up.”
“No, you aren’t,” John insists.
“How could she love me after what I just did to her?”
“She does.”
Ethan shakes his head. “No. I can’t do it. I won’t.”
Shannon sighs. “Then let’s work on restoring your name and getting your job back. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good.” Shannon buttons up her coat. “Then I’ll be in touch.”
John follows her to the door then stops. “Make sure you eat something, O’Connell. And for the love of God, take a shower.”
Rachel arrives in Olivia’s office with a coffee. “How are you making out with that file?”
“I’m still reading through the data.”
“You look tired.”
“Shannon called this morning. She wanted me to know that Jessica had her baby.”
Indivisible Souls: Book 3 of the Bound4Ireland Series Page 26
