25
Olivia
When I reach out for Geary in the large bed and find the space beside me empty and cold, I know he’s gone. There had been something in his eyes as he made love to me during the night, but I’d been too tired to really see what he’d been telling me.
Now I knew that he’d been saying goodbye to me in the only way he knew how.
Tears slip down my face while I try and accept that he left me on Christmas day. Why would he do this? I know he loves me because it was written on his face when he made love to me. I’d whispered to him that I loved him, words I haven’t spoken to another man who I wasn’t related to. He still left me. Why wouldn’t he give us this day together before we had to go our separate ways?
Curling in to my pillow, I notice a sheet of hotel notepaper on his pillow. My heart kicks in my chest with fear. I don’t know why because he’s already left. However, for my own peace of mind, I need to know his reasoning for letting me wake up alone on Christmas day. For leaving me after I told him I love him. I cover my mouth with a hand as more tears pour from my eyes and down my cheeks.
My hand trembles as I reach out and retrieve the note. It’s folded with my name written in a beautiful script.
Olivia,
I love you.
I know it may not seem that way now you’ve woken to an empty bed, however I do—very much so. In fact, I love you to the point that I had no idea how I was supposed to watch you walk out of my life after Christmas.
You’re city and I’m country.
In the long run I’m trying to make this easier for you… That’s a lie. I’m making it easier for me because I have a pain in my chest when I look at you. You’re beautiful in every way and you captured my heart the first time I saw you.
I love you and want you to have the life you’ve worked hard for. I can’t be the one responsible for you giving all that up.
Be happy Olivia.
Love you always,
Geary.
I don’t know whether to be angry or sad at Geary’s words. I think I’m a bit of both. Angry that he’s making decisions for me, and sad that he thinks he comes second to the life I have.
My life is work and more work. It’s lonely and Geary has changed all that. I don’t care where I live as long as I’m close to him. I can cut down on my workload and split my time between home with Geary and my office in Lexington. It can be worked out, and just as soon as I pull myself together the man is going to be told that no one makes decisions for Olivia McKenzie.
Freezing my butt off curbside at Boston Logan, I can’t decide where my destination is going to be—Lexington or Montana.
Do I go after what I want? Or should I go home and nurse my wounds?
In the end it was an easy decision to make and the one my heart desired. Geary Tyler is about to find out that I will go after what I want, and that I’ve no intention of walking away from him. He’s going to get stuck with me.
Smiling, I clutch my ticket in hand and head for security.
Controlled and organized Olivia is no more.
Spontaneous Olivia is going getting her man.
26
Geary
Lucky for me the snow had kept off until I’d arrived at the cabin I call home. My SUV is parked at the back so that Madison and Derek won’t see it if they happen to glance over in this direction from their house. The last thing I want is for Madison to come over here demanding to know why I’m not with Olivia nor do I want her to drag me over to their house to join them. It’s their first Christmas together as a married couple and I want them to have that time before they leave to visit Tanner and Charlotte in Lexington on the twenty-seventh.
Sighing heavily, I poke the fire and suddenly laugh. A true sign that I’m home will be the smoke blowing from the chimney.
Groaning, I sit down in my favorite chair by the fire and not for the first time, I wish I had a dog curled up by my feet. Perhaps I’ll get a rescue dog to keep me company as I’ve probably blown it with Olivia.
All the way home I thought of nothing else but the woman I’d left behind. I couldn’t stop imagining her waking up alone in the hotel room and seeing my note waiting for her. I’d managed to talk myself out of turning straight around at the airport and heading back. Chances were she’d taken a flight home to Lexington, and I couldn’t get there from here, as there were no flights heading in that direction until the morning.