Wishing Pearl (41 page)

He asked for it. “I’d love to be with my mom.”

Ben put two fingers between his lips and let out a loud, shrill whistle.

The patio door swung open and there she stood, right on the deck.

Olivia dropped her fork full of cake on the picnic table, and it bounced onto the grass, sending crumbs and frosting flying everywhere. “Mom? How? Did you?” She turned to Ben.

He shook his head. “Justin did it all. He set it up—with permission, of course.”

Mom stood rooted to her spot, her eyes wide. “Liv?” She opened her arms.

Olivia ran to her and fell into the embrace she’d needed for years. She laid her head on her mother’s shoulder.

“Happy birthday, Livvie Love. Everything is going to be okay.” Mom pulled back a little, put her hands on each side of Olivia’s face, and looked into her eyes. “I love you.”

Olivia crumpled. The years of fighting to be strong, begging to be noticed, hiding from the pain … they all washed away in the final wave of God’s healing.

It was finished.

On her way out to the stable to saddle up two horses, Olivia saw a bent-over figure in the garden. She stopped walking and just watched. His arms bulged as he pulled at the wire fencing. The sprigs of vegetables that poked up from the dirt were about to attract the rabbits and other hungry animals. Time to fence them out.

Justin wiped the sweat off his forehead. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bandanna that he folded and tied around his head to keep the sweat from dripping into those gorgeous blue eyes of his.

“Need some help?”

Startled, Justin lost his grip on the fencing, and it sprang back into the tight roll he’d been fighting against.

Olivia winced. “Sorry. Here, let me hold the end and you unroll.”

Silently, Justin followed her instructions without looking into her eyes.

Olivia stood still while Justin pulled his side around the post he’d already placed. “I think I’ve got it now. Thanks.” He took the end she held with one hand and grabbed her hand with the other. “Olivia. It’s been over a month since we last spoke—it’s been so hard to be around here knowing you’re avoiding me. I don’t know what I said to offend you, but I’m sorry. I wouldn’t hurt you for anything. Ever.”

“I know that now.” Olivia’s chin quivered. “The truth came out eventually. It was all Kira’s work. She came to me and apologized, believe it or not.” She looked into Justin’s eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t believe in you. You should be angry with me, not me with you.”

Justin shook his head. “Liv, you probably have good reason to assume that people will betray you. I won’t. Ever. But it will take you time to learn that and believe it.” He released her hand.

Olivia nodded. “I hope not too much time—I don’t want you to run off on me.”

He held her gaze. “Never.”

“Olivia? Where are you?” Mom called from the deck.

“I’m out here, Mom. You all freshened up? I’m just getting saddles on the horses. Come on out.” Olivia looked at Justin. “Thank you for bringing her here.”

He winked. “No problem.”

Mom approached them just as Justin turned back to his work.

Olivia finished cinching Buttercup’s saddle for Mom and then mounted Cinnamon. “Ready to go?”

Olivia tugged lightly on the reins and turned to see if Mom was following her up the trail. “You doing okay on Buttercup?”

“Oh yes. She and I are getting along beautifully. She’s a darling.” Mom leaned down and patted the horse’s neck.

“She really is.” Olivia pointed up the trail. “Just beyond that ridge is a clearing. We’ll let them wander a bit in there. They like to explore.” She flicked her reins and tapped her heels into Cinnamon’s side to get her moving a bit faster. No real need though. The horse knew exactly where to go.

The sun beat its warmth down on her head, but Olivia felt the cool mountain air on her face. The blend was invigorating. Snow melted and fell from the trees while green grass poked from the earth, searching for sunlight and nourishment. The promise of spring. So much hope.

Olivia reined Cinnamon to a stop when they reached the clearing. She closed her eyes, breathed in the fresh air, and let it cleanse her lungs. “I miss Daddy.”

“I miss him, too.” Mom lifted her face to the sunshine. “Life would have been so different.”

“I’ll never forget the day of his funeral. I think about it all the time.” Olivia patted Cinnamon’s neck.

“Yeah. I wish I remembered more of it, but I fainted and spent most of it in the foyer getting medical attention.”

Olivia’s jaw dropped. “What? You fainted? That’s where you were?”

“Where did you think I was?”

“I just always wondered why you didn’t come to me while I was crying on the floor in front of his casket. I felt so alone.” Olivia turned her head away so Mom wouldn’t see the tears. “I’d just lost my daddy, and all I wanted was my mommy.”

Mom gasped. “Liv, I didn’t know you felt that way. I had no idea. You’ve been carrying that all these years?”

Olivia nodded. “I thought you didn’t care.”

“Oh, sweetie. No. It kills me that you’ve been hanging on to that—that you ever had to wonder.” Mom reached out and took Olivia’s hand and gazed through the trees at the blue sky above. “It’s all going to be different now. Do you believe that?”

“I do.”
Deep breath
. “Mom, I mailed you a letter a few weeks ago. Did you get it?”

She smiled and nodded. “I was waiting for you to bring that up.”

Olivia nodded but said nothing, hoping Mom would make the next move.

“Congratulations on the scholarship, Liv. That’s amazing.”

Olivia twisted the reins between her fingers. “Thanks. We talked about that on the phone already.”
What else?
And why hadn’t she brought the letter up before?

“I agree with everything you said—church, counseling, job. You’re right about all of it.”

“So you’ve gone to church?”

“I did go Sunday, but I’ve decided not to get involved.”

Olivia’s shoulders slumped. “Why not, Mom?” Nothing would change if she didn’t start with the basics. Church was step one.

Mom’s eyes twinkled. “Wouldn’t it make more sense to just start going to church here?”

“Do you mean …? You’re going to move here? I get to stay in Colorado?” Olivia’s eyes lit up. School. Friends. Mountains. Church. And Justin. Her heart swelled as the blessings poured into her mind. As long as Mom really meant it.

Mom nodded. “Why not? It’s not like my choices have led us anywhere worth hanging on to. Why not a fresh start? And Liv, you deserve this shot at a future. When I think of all you’ve been through—” She took a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes.

“Thanks, Mom.” Olivia held her gaze. “It really means a lot to me.” She looked up at the sky and let the sun bathe her face. “You know, it’s not just this place I love.” She spread her arms at the expanse of the outdoors. “It’s also
that
place. Diamond Estates. Ben, Alicia, and the counselors are doing amazing work with the girls who come here. It’s so sacrificial. I want to live like that. I’d love to be a counselor here after I finish school—or do something like this.”

“I could see you doing that, Liv. I mean, you sure won’t get rich.” She chuckled.

Money. Wealth. Stuff. Why did her mother always have to go there? Some things never changed.

Mom went on. “But I know now that riches aren’t even close to being important to the big picture. It took me awhile, but I figured it out.”

Olivia gasped and looked up and down Mom’s body. “Wait! Mom. Are you wearing off the rack?”

“Come on, now. You can’t be serious.” Mom looked down at her clothes in horror. “Does it look like I am?” Her eyes blazed with panic.

“I’m just teasing you.” Apparently the materialism would be tackled with baby steps. Olivia smiled. Some things never did change—but that didn’t have to be all bad.

“I want you to know something, Liv. I’m putting most of Charles’s money and investments in a trust for you.”

Olivia’s stomach turned at the mention of his name, and she opened her mouth to protest. She didn’t want a dime of his money.

Mom held up her hand. “No, Liv, hear me out. You can do whatever you want with it. Maybe it will fund your own place like Diamond Estates after college. Think about it. You said you wanted to take what Satan meant for evil and let God use it for good. Why not let God win in a big way?”

Wow. She was right. Again. Olivia nodded. “What a great idea, Mom. Thank you.”

“I kept out enough to get us a place to live, nothing extravagant. We’ll start house hunting tomorrow so it can be ready when you graduate from here in August—that’s only a couple of short months away, you know. And then I’ll get a job.”

Could it be true? Did Olivia have a shot at one of those happy families like she saw at church? Bumped and bruised along the way—but happy in the end?

Wait a second
. Olivia pulled on her reins and brought Cinnamon to a stop. “Mom, about the house … I have an idea.”

“Where are we going, and when are we going to get there?” Skye whined from the far back seat of the van.

Ben laughed and looked back at his son seated beside Olivia. “Skye, you remind me of Justin when he was three—impatient as all get-out.”

“Thanks, Dad.” The tips of Justin’s ears reddened.

“Patience, Skye. You’ll see when we get there.” Olivia tossed a neck pillow at her.

Tricia wiggled her eyebrows at Ju-Ju beside her in the next-to-last row. “I know where we’re going. Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah.”

“Real mature, T!”

“Soon enough, girls. Turn left up here at the stop sign,” Mom directed Ben. “Then an immediate right.” She leaned forward and pointed out the front window. “It’s that one right at the end.”

“Here we are.” Olivia climbed from the van and waited until everyone stood on the driveway. “Welcome to our new home.”

“This is yours?” Ben whistled. “It’s awesome.”

It sure is
. Olivia looked up at the modest, two-story redbrick exterior and the wide porch with its rocking chairs and porch swing. Large backyard, wooded on three sides.
It’s perfect
.

“Yep.” Mom put her hands on her hips and leaned back to gaze up toward the gables. “I closed this morning. I’m hoping to get it painted and all ready before the Diamond Estates graduation—only three more weeks.”

“Let’s go in.” Olivia skipped up the steps and opened the white front door. The hardwood floors gleamed, and the white trim looked like it had been freshly painted. They passed through the foyer into a sunny yellow kitchen with white cabinets. The tiny breakfast nook was big enough for a round table with four chairs. Its sliding glass doors led out to a large, weathered deck.

The group stepped out to see the backyard.

“This is awesome.” Justin gestured to the mountain view and the thick trees.

“I have to admit, I’m partial to that.” Ben pointed to the built-in grill. “You’ve chosen a beautiful home, Ginny. I know Alicia will agree.” He gazed up at the white siding on the back of the house.

Olivia chuckled.
Wonder what he’d say if he could see where we used to live
. The foyer of that house would swallow the entire first floor of this one. But
this
was home.

“There’s a finished basement—I’m going to let Olivia do whatever she wants in that space. She’ll make it a hangout of some kind, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, but let’s go upstairs. That’s the best part.” She led them through the house, past the dining room and family room, up the carpeted staircase with its wooden handrails. She passed the first few doors and went right to the master bedroom. “This one’s Mom’s.” She gave them just a second to peek in at the vaulted ceilings and the bathroom with its jetted bathtub. It was half the size of the one she’d had in Illinois.

“Come on, there’s more. This one is my room.” Olivia stepped back so everyone could peek inside. “That’s enough. Come on.” She hustled them into the hallway, her stomach knotted.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Justin laughed. “You said this was the best part.”

“Yeah, really.
Chica es muy loco
.” Ju-Ju rotated a finger by her head.

“I’m not crazy, you’ll see.” Olivia stopped beside two closed doors and winked at Tricia, who grinned. If only she could be a part of this, too. “Ju-Ju and Skye … pick.” She bowed to the doors.