Her mood had not improved. She longed for Levon. Why, oh why had she shut herself away in the bedroom so quickly? She had been tired, sure, but mostly it had been frustration that drove her from his arms: frustration at being unable to come up with a clever solution to the problem at school, and frustration with herself. It was apparent she might have given valuable information away to the wrong person, or people. Information that could imperil the case they had worked so hard on.
Maybe that was also partly why she had a hard time looking at Levon. Where once he had treated her as a partner, he now appeared to be treating her as a liability. It was possible she had screwed up, but she still thought she was right to have told that mother what she knew about the threat the gang represented. And even if she did screw up, it was one mistake! It wasn’t worth throwing out his esteem of her entirely!
But she was jumping to conclusions now. Breathe, Olive, she instructed herself. She didn’t care whether her heart led over her head or vice versa; but if she let her hormones lead, all was lost. She was as susceptible as any other pregnant woman to acting on estrogen if she wasn’t careful.
Olive got up and wandered the illuminated space. She decided to shut a few of the lights off; and as she did so, she tried to take in every detail of Levon’s apartment with new eyes. She had brought a stack of scientific journals with her; the blanket she was knitting; heck, even her houseplant. She kept conveniently forgetting to pick up the shampoo she usually used just because she enjoyed smelling like Levon, but her pink razor was perched on the side of his tub, and her toothbrush inhabited the same cup as his.
But Levon had to stay portable. It was his job. He might be called to up and leave tomorrow, and it would take him less than five minutes to pack his life away and be on his way. Who was to say he hadn’t done so already while she slept...?
Her laptop chimed from the kitchen counter, nearly startling her out of her wits. It chimed again in a pattern, and Olive hastened over to her computer. She sat down, and answered the Skype call from her parents.
“Hi honey!” her mother’s enthusiastic greeting came in a few minutes after the pixelated image formed on the screen. Bill and Jill Owen traveled the globe working for various non-profits, offering up their mighty intellects and well-researched opinions to countless organizations that struggled to make countries in the Third World more habitable and more humane. At present, they were taking a break from saving mankind to volunteer their parental concern while she told them about the investigation.
Olive smiled despite herself, and leaned in as close as possible. “Hi, Mom. Is that blob of color beside you Dad?”
“Speaking of blobs!” her father crowed, and Olive knew she was in for it now. “Haven’t you popped yet? What’s it going to take for you to make grandparents out of us?”
“Nine months, usually,” Olive replied. “How have the two of you been getting on in Haiti?”
“Fine, fine,” her mother said. “Same old, same old. We’re more concerned with you. Tell us what’s happening there.”
Olive hesitated a moment, then decided to tell them everything. She needed a shoulder to cry on, people who knew and understood her and could help sort out this complicated mess she’d found herself in. She started with the most important piece, “Levon Asher is back in town.”
For a moment, her parents froze and at first Olive thought maybe they’d lost the internet connection, but then her mother turned to her father and whispered something to him that Olive couldn’t hear before looking at her daughter again. “Does he know the baby’s his?”
“He does.” Olive sighed. “But there’s more going on I need to tell you about.”
She went over the details of the c
ase so far, including her fears about Franklin Monroe’s involvement with the gang. She’d always been close to her parents and they’d been her steadiest confidants, supporting her during times of trouble. Now was no different. “I’m just really concerned for him. Franklin’s a good kid. Good student, thoughtful, kind. If anything happened to him because of all this, I’m not sure what I’d do.”
“Oh, honey,” her mother said. “I’m so sorry this is happening, especially with the baby coming and all, but I’m glad Levon’s back to help you. Where is he, by the way?”
“Working, I think.” She’d searched for a note from him, but hadn’t found one, suggesting he’d not returned after leaving the night before. Olive wasn’t sure how she felt about that. On the one hand, she was glad he was out there seeking justice and battling the rise of the Reapers gang in their town. But on the other hand, she missed him. More than was probably wise.
He'd never said the words out loud, but she was pretty certain he cared for her, at least a little. And he’d seemed nothing but over the moon about the baby coming. But neither of those things guaranteed he’d stick around Harper’s Forge to help her raise the baby after she gave birth. Hell, maybe he wouldn’t even be around for the birth itself, if the case wrapped up faster than they’d predicted. She loved him, yes, but she couldn’t rely on him past this whole gang situation. He’d take financial responsibility, Olive was sure, and might even show up for birthdays and few holidays, if his job allowed, but beyond that, there were no guarantees.
Her heart ached a little more each time she thought of saying goodbye. Olive usually prided herself on being pragmatic, professional, prepared. But being with Levon the past few weeks had turned her life upside down, in the best and worst ways, and now she felt more than a tad perplexed by it all.
As if sensing her inner worry, her father said, “Well, dear, I wouldn’t worry. SEALs are known for their ability to get the job done, no matter how difficult. I’m sure he’ll be home soon. What I’m more concerned about is whether the two of you have talked about how you’re going to raise your child together.”
Olive’s posture slumped and she sighed. “We haven’t. Not yet. Up until the day he returned to town, I was prepared to do this alone. I still can, if necessary.”
Eyes narrowed, her mother leaned closer to the screen. “You know we’ll back you, honey, whatever decision you make, but single parenting is harder than you imagine. In our travels, we’ve seen many mothers raising families on their own and no matter what your location, kids are hard work. If Levon’s willing to chip in and help, let him. Do you trust him?”
She thought about that a minute. If anyone had asked her that question seven months ago, Olive might have said no. Even a few weeks ago, she hadn’t been sure. But now, she felt closer to Levon than she did just about anyone, other than the two people on her computer screen and the baby growing inside her. She nodded. “Yes, I trust him.”
“Then talk to him,” her father urged. “Get all this out in the open, then decide the future. You can’t make plans based on only half the information. You’re smart enough to know that.”
“Yes, honey.” Her mother laughed. “Maybe too smart. Sometimes your brain can get in the way. Be sure to consult your heart in this too. I haven’t seen Levon Asher in years, but from what I remember when I met him back when you two were in high school, he seemed like a decent boy. And his parents were wonderful people. Simple folk, but good and kind. If he’s turned out anything like them, he’ll be a good partner for you. Your father and I look forward to seeing him again the next time we’re in the States. You’ll have had the baby then too.”
“Yeah.” Olive’s father told one of his bad dad jokes, but she was only half-listening, her mind still stuck on Levon. Finally the connection grew fuzzier and it was time to go. “I love you both. Be careful!”
“You too dear,” her parents said. “And be sure to have that talk with Levon.”
The computer screen went black as the connection severed, leaving Olive to stare at her own reflection. Usually, hashing things out with her parents put her fears at ease, but today, they’d only added new tension to her already overloaded system. The fact that they were right about her need to talk to Levon about his plans for the future didn’t help either.
Olive didn’t like uncertainty. She was a woman of facts and figures, a scientist. She liked things cut and dried and clear as crystal. Levon was nothing but a big walking question mark to her at the moment. The only place they seemed perfectly synchronized was in bed, but fabulous sex didn’t a relationship make.