Chapter 31
600words
Olivia's POV
The lake was still as glass in the early morning light, reflecting the surrounding pines in perfect symmetry. I sat on the dock, wrapped in one of Nathan's sweaters against the autumn chill, watching a pair of loons glide across the water. Three days had passed since our visit with Lily—three days of quiet conversations, shared meals, and slowly rebuilding trust.
My phone vibrated beside me. Rebecca. This would be her fifth call since yesterday. I had been avoiding her, unsure if I was ready for that particular conversation. But as Nathan had gently pointed out last night, reconciliation had to start somewhere.
With a deep breath, I answered. "Hello, Rebecca."
"Liv." Her voice was hesitant, relieved. "Thank God. I was starting to think something had happened to you."
"I'm fine," I said, more curtly than I intended. "Just needed some space."
"I understand." She paused. "Nathan told me where you are. Not the exact location," she added quickly, "just that you're somewhere safe. Together."
The implication in her tone was clear. "We're figuring things out," I said carefully.
"That's... good. I'm glad." Another pause. "Liv, I need to see you. There are things I need to say in person. Things I need to explain."
My instinct was to refuse, to protect myself from more pain. But the past week had taught me that healing couldn't happen without facing difficult truths.
"Okay," I said finally. "But not here. This place is... it's a sanctuary right now."
"Of course. I could meet you halfway? There's a café in Lakeville, about forty minutes from you."
I agreed to meet her that afternoon, then ended the call, my emotions a tangled mess. Part of me wanted to forgive my sister, to repair our relationship. Another part still burned with the betrayal of her lies about being pregnant with Nathan's child.
"Everything okay?"
I turned to find Nathan standing on the dock behind me, two mugs of coffee in his hands. He was dressed casually in jeans and a henley, his hair still damp from the shower. The domesticity of the moment struck me—how natural it felt to be sharing these quiet morning rituals again.
"Rebecca wants to meet," I said, accepting the coffee he offered. "I agreed to see her this afternoon."
Nathan sat beside me, close enough that our shoulders touched. "How do you feel about that?"
"Conflicted," I admitted. "She's my sister. The only immediate family I have left. But what she did..."
"She was manipulated by my father," Nathan reminded me gently. "Not that it excuses her actions, but it might help explain them."
I nodded, sipping my coffee. "I know. And I want to forgive her. I'm just not sure how."
"Maybe you don't need to figure that out before you see her," he suggested. "Maybe just listening is enough for now."
"When did you get so wise?" I asked, bumping his shoulder lightly with mine.
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in that way I'd always loved. "Probably around the time I realized what an idiot I'd been to let you go."
The simple honesty of his statement warmed me more than the coffee. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the loons dive and resurface.
"I'll drive you to meet Rebecca," Nathan offered eventually. "Not to intrude, but for safety. I can wait in the car."
