Bile rose in my throat, and my hands began to tremble. A thin sheen of sweat immediately formed on my skin. I felt like laughing and crying and cheering and collapsing all at once.

“It was good,” she said in a voice that matched her small stature. “Cami couldn’t come. Twent was ’posed to wash the dishes before we weft, but he fowgot. Cami will be mad, mad, mad.”

I breathed out a quiet laugh. She was so articulate, and her sweet little voice made tears sting my eyes.

Taylor noticed my reaction and reached for my hand. “Hey,” he whispered, “you okay?”

“She probably had to work, huh?” Travis asked, looking to Trenton.

“Always,” Trenton said, readjusting the sack in his arms.

All the air was pushed from my lungs, and salty tears fell down my cheeks. I’d fought to keep my emotions under control for years, but I hadn’t been prepared to see her in that moment. Her innocent voice rang in my ears. Of the hundreds of scenarios that had played in my head, Olive walking up behind me with Taylor’s brother hadn’t been one of them.

Whatever my expression was, Taylor seemed concerned, and he tightly held my hand.

Jim noticed, too, but he forced some small talk. “So, I guess you’re not hungry.”

“Hi, Olive,” Abby said. “What’s in the sacks?”

Olive’s little legs rushed over to Abby, and she fumbled to open one of the sacks.

“Oh!” Abby said, her eyes bright as she looked back up at Olive. “Yummy! Your mom is going to strangle Trent!”

Travis leaned over to see inside the sack, and he chuckled. “That’s a lot of candy, Olive.”

“It’s not all fow me,” she said simply.

Trenton reached for Olive, summoning her back to his side. “We just swung by the store to pick up a few things you were out of, Dad. Liza is home. I’m going to drop off Olive, and then I’m heading to The Red to see Cami.”

“Sounds good,” Jim said, his fork poking around on his plate. “You guys still liking the apartment?”

“Domestic bliss,” Trenton said with a wide grin.

He set the sack down in the kitchen and unloaded a few items. Then he led Olive down the hall by the hand. They were discussing something. He was looking down at her, and she up at him.

I realized I was still turned around, gripping the top edge of the back of the chair.

She was walking away. I felt sick.

“Falyn, are you okay?” Taylor asked, genuine concern in his voice.

I reached for the glass of water and took a gulp. “I think I’m just so tired from not sleeping much last night and then traveling today.”

“Take the water with you,” Jim said. “Flying dehydrates you. I never sleep well the night before a trip either.”