A Heart to Trust by A.L. Brooks (romantic books to read txt) 📗

Philip and Mallory arrived moments later. Mallory was already showing and couldn’t seem to help holding a hand over her rounded belly at every spare moment.

Olivia couldn’t blame her; she knew how long they had tried for a baby.

“Here she is!” Katherine rushed over to Mallory and held her gently but closely. “How are you? Still sick? Do you need a comfy chair? What about water, do you have water?”

“Mom,” Philip and Broderick said in unison, and everyone laughed.

Katherine blushed and waved her hands. “Oh, stop, all of you. I can’t help it. My first grandbaby!” Then she rushed out of the room and returned a minute or so later with a large Christmas-themed sack in her hands. “Now, I know we don’t normally go silly over gifts, but I couldn’t help it!”

Mallory caught Olivia’s eye and shook her head. “Here we go,” she mouthed.

Olivia laughed, her worries about Jenny and lying and guilt—momentarily, at least—forgotten.

“You’re here! Merry Christmas!” Tamara cried as she opened the door and ushered Carl and Jenny in from the cold hallway.

Roz appeared, and the four friends exchanged long hugs.

Jenny made sure she kept her game face on and smiled for all she was worth, though she was as cold inside as the December weather was outside. The last thirty-six hours had passed in a numb blur; she’d tried a million times to get the memory of kissing Olivia out of her head, but no such luck. She’d also worked hard to push away the hurt she felt that Olivia wouldn’t even talk about it. The rejection stung, even more so because no matter Olivia’s marital status, she had kissed Jenny as if she absolutely meant it.

“Hey, you.” Tamara jabbed at Jenny’s bicep. “You with us?”

“What? Oh, yeah, sure. Sorry, must have just drifted off there for a moment.”

Tamara gave her a crooked grin and Jenny’s heart sunk. Yep, busted. Tamara would track her down for a private chat sometime during the day, of that Jenny was sure.

They set to work drinking eggnog, opening gifts, and teasing Carl about how serious things seemed to be with Solomon. Then it was time to finish the cooking, set the table, open the wine, and share once more the joy of a Christmas with their chosen family. My real family, Jenny thought, not for the first time.

After stuffing themselves with the delicious meal Tamara had cooked—some roasted chicken and vegetable dish Jenny couldn’t stop eating even after she knew she was full—Jenny and Tamara slouched on the couch. Their feet were up on the long coffee table, glasses of wine still in their hands, while Carl and Roz cleared up in the kitchen.

“So,” Tamara said, “what’s up?”

Jenny didn’t pretend not to know what Tamara was talking about, so after one deep breath, she told her what had happened with Olivia.

“Oh. Shit.” Tamara ran a hand over her face. “I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this. That she’d resist you, though I can see how hard that would be and that you wouldn’t give in if she did crumble.” She shook her head. “So, what now? She won’t talk about it. She’s told you to forget it. What are you gonna do?”

Jenny shrugged. “I have to respect her wishes, don’t I? I can’t force her to talk to me. Much as I’d want to.”

“Good. For one moment there, I thought you were gonna do something dumb. Like try and contact her again before work.”

Jenny coughed.

“Oh no, don’t tell me you—”

“Just one message!” Jenny pulled out her phone and scrolled to the messaging app. “See?”

Tamara leaned in and read the two-part exchange. “Okay. I guess I can see why you’d try once. But I’m proud of you for not doing more. You’re right, as much as it hurts, you have to do what she asks.” She inched closer and wrapped her free arm around Jenny. “But I am sorry. Truly. It’s been obvious for a while that you like her. Damn these straight women who mess with us, huh?”

“What makes you think she’s straight?”

“Huh?”

“She might be bi. Or pan. Just because she’s married to a guy doesn’t mean she’s straight.”

Tamara swallowed. “Damn, you’re right. My bad.” She exhaled loudly. “Wow, I just jumped to some big heteronormative conclusions there, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did. No dessert for you.” Jenny held out her hands when Tamara scowled at her. “But hey, thanks. For listening. And not just now, but all the way through this saga. You’ve been there every time when I needed someone to talk it through with.”

“Aw, anytime. You know that. I’m just so sorry when a new woman appears in your life to light you up for the first time in a long while, and she turns out to be a mess you shouldn’t mess with.”

Jenny sighed. “Yeah, you’re right about that.”

“Does that mean dessert is back on the table?” Tamara asked with a sly grin.

Chapter 24

Olivia walked into work on January 2 with her emotional armor locked in place. Taking the holiday period off as a vacation had been, in hindsight, a brilliant idea. Time away from Jenny had done wonders. Well, maybe that was an exaggeration, but she had definitely come to terms with the fact they couldn’t be together; there was still so much more time needed before she and Broderick could get divorced. Her priority was to work to the best of her ability to secure one of the permanent roles and therefore set herself up nicely for life post-divorce.

To that end, the other thing she steeled herself for was a showdown with Chrissy. Olivia was determined to get to the bottom of whatever game she was playing. Today, no matter what, she would find time to get Chrissy alone and confront her about the stunt she’d pulled with Katherine’s arrival time during Catwalk.

“Good morning,” Olivia said as she reached her desk.

“Hello,” Maxwell said. “And happy new year.”

“And to you.” She beamed