Patricia Kay - The Man She Should Have Married

Eve was still talking, still making an obvious attempt to reassure Olivia. “I’ll be coming to Crandall Lake a lot. And you’ll be visiting us wherever we are. And you know, I’ve been thinking. If you want to, you and Thea can even travel with us when Adam has a concert and we’re able to go with him.”

“I have a job, you know.” But wouldn’t it be wonderful to be free of everything tying her down and just take Thea and go, the way Eve was suggesting? “Besides, I don’t think I should leave my mom.” Norma was newly diagnosed as a diabetic—something their family seemed to be genetically disposed to—and was having some trouble dealing with the disease.

Eve gave Olivia a sideways look. “Stella’s here.” Stella was Olivia’s younger sister and she lived within walking distance of their family home. “You said yourself she’s really stepped up to the plate and has educated herself about the disease so that she can help your mom.”

“I know, but...” Olivia evaded Eve’s gaze.

“Let’s talk about the real reason. You’re afraid Vivienne would make trouble for you if you moved.”

Olivia made a face. Her mother-in-law hated her in direct proportion to the possessiveness she felt for Thea, her only grandchild, the daughter of her perfect younger son, who had died so tragically in the crash of his Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan.

“Am I right? Or am I right?” Eve pressed.

“You’re right.”

“She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?”

“That’s a kind way of putting it.”

“I’ll never understand her.” Eve finished her wine and set the glass on the coffee table in front of them.

“I’m not sure anyone does.” Olivia got up and retrieved the still-half-full bottle of Merlot she’d opened earlier. She poured more into Eve’s glass. “Even Matt says she’s just used to getting her own way, and when she doesn’t, look out.”

She was referring to Matt Britton, her brother-in-law, Vivienne’s oldest son. He’d always been good to Olivia, in spite of his mother. In fact, since Mark’s death, Olivia wasn’t sure how she’d have coped with her mother-in-law if not for Matt.

From day one, Vivienne Britton had been furious that Mark, her obvious favorite child, had wanted to marry “a nobody” like Olivia Dubrovnik instead of Charlotte Chambers, the daughter of the Brittons’ oldest friends. Charlotte was “our kind” and “perfect for you” as she’d told Mark many times, once even in Olivia’s hearing. It still amazed Olivia that Mark had defied his mother, because in all other things he had always done what she wanted him to do.

“Let’s not talk about her anymore.” Olivia poured more wine into her own glass and sat down again, curling her bare legs under her.

Eve smiled. “Good idea. Instead, let’s talk about you dating again.”

“I’m only thinking about dating again,” Olivia corrected. “I haven’t really decided. Besides, it’s not like there’s a line of eligible men out the door.”

There was one person who interested her, and for a moment, she was tempted to tell Eve about him, but pushed the urge away, because the situation was impossible. She felt a bit guilty about not telling Eve, because normally she told her everything, but in this case, her gut told her it was best not to put her feelings into words.

“The reason guys aren’t lining up is because no one knows you’re ready,” Eve said.

“I can hardly make an announcement.”

“No, but I can get the word out.”

Olivia stared at her. “What are you going to do? Put a notice in the Courier?” Eve had worked for the Crandall Lake Courier before marrying Adam in August.

Eve grinned, a sly look in her eyes. “No, but I just might mention it casually to Austin when we see him Sunday morning.”

“Austin!” Olivia was startled. Austin Crenshaw was one of Adam’s younger brothers. A successful lawyer, he took care of all Adam’s personal and professional legal and financial matters. “Why would he care?”

“Surely you saw how he was checking you out at the wedding,” Eve said. Austin had been Adam’s best man, and Olivia had served as Eve’s matron of honor.

“That’s ridiculous!” Olivia said. “He was just being polite to his new sister-in-law’s cousin.”

Eve shook her head knowingly. “Nope. He’s interested. I know the signs. And he’d be perfect for you.”

“That’s crazy. I am so not in his league.”

“Why are you constantly putting yourself down? He couldn’t find anyone better if he tried!”

Olivia loved that her cousin was always so loyal, but she had to face facts. “C’mon, Eve. If he’d really been interested, as you say, why hasn’t he called me or something?”

“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”

“No, no. Please don’t say anything to him.”

“I’ll just casually bring up your name Sunday.”

“No! Please, Eve. I really don’t want you to.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Eve insisted. “Austin and I have a great relationship. Since Adam and I got married, I’ve really gotten to know him. We’ve sort of bonded. And he’s a really great guy.”

Olivia knew, just from the determined look on Eve’s face, that she was not going to be dissuaded. It was useless to keep trying. Because, if she did, Eve would eventually wonder why. “Okay, but don’t say anything in front of the kids.” Eve and her twins were meeting Austin for breakfast Sunday.

“Don’t worry.” Eve smiled, happy now she’d gotten her way. “I’ll be discreet. The kids won’t hear me.”

“Thing is, I don’t want him to think I put you up to talking to him.” The very idea made Olivia cringe. Why had she even mentioned she was thinking about dating? She should have known Eve would latch on to that and start suggesting possible candidates. She gave a mental sigh. Austin did seem nice. Plus he certainly was easy on the eyes. All the Crenshaw men were. And since the one man who did interest her was completely and totally off-limits...

“Quit worrying,” Eve said. “That’s my job, remember?”

Olivia smiled. Worrying was Eve’s job, always had been. She was the conservative one, the cautious one. Olivia had always been more impulsive, more willing to take a chance.

But that was before she’d had Thea.

Before she was a mother.

Now her first priority would always be her daughter, and that meant she had to think carefully before she did anything that might negatively impact Thea’s life in any way.

“Seriously, Eve,” she said, “I’m not in any hurry. If I do get into another relationship, he’d have to be pretty special...after Mark.” It made her sad to think about Mark, who was her first love. They’d only been married months before he went to Afghanistan. They’d had so little time. His life had been cut so short, and he’d died so young. And without ever holding or knowing his daughter, except for photos and images on Skype.

“I know,” Eve said. “You have plenty of time, and I’m sure, once the guys around here—Austin included—know you’re ready, there’ll be no shortage of possible candidates.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. She wasn’t anywhere near as confident as Eve that men would be lining up to take on a widow with a small child.

The cousins continued to talk for another hour or so, but when the Wedgewood clock on the mantel chimed one o’clock, Eve yawned and stretched. “I’m beat.”

“Me, too. We’d better get to bed. Tomorrow’s a big day.” Olivia got up and took Eve’s glass. “You can use the bathroom first. I’ll take these out to the kitchen and be there in a minute.” The cousins were sharing Olivia’s bedroom and the king-size bed she and Mark had so happily purchased together.