Page 20 of Tango

“That’s normal too.” Ivy leaned her forearms on the island and lowered herself to Olivia’s eye level. “That’s being scared. Scared is on that list.”

“I know my mom was kidnapped years ago.” Olivia spoke quietly. “I’ve heard people talk about it lots of times, and I mostly figured out what happened. I just can’t help thinking what if…it was my mom.” She started to cry, and Mark tossed the spoon he was holding into the sink and raced to Olivia. He pulled her off the stool, and she buried her face in his shoulder.

“Truth,” he said into her hair as tears leaked down his face, “there was a moment I thought the same thing.” She sobbed even harder, and I had to blink a few times to stop my own emotion from bubbling over. “The difference is your momma would never leave this house, leave your dad, leave your brother, leave you, or any of us. Your mom and dad are in a whole different place than Uncle Keith and Aunt Lexi were. You understand that, right?” He held her tight as she continued to sob.

Savannah ran into the kitchen with Cole on her heels. They must have heard her crying. Olivia looked up at the sound and swung herself into her mother’s arms then pulled her father in close.

“She’s scared about the what-ifs,” Ivy explained. “If it was Savi.” Cole’s face fell.

Mark leaned in and kissed Olivia’s head then turned back to washing the dishes.

“I think we could use a little family time.” Cole began to usher them out of the room but not before he stopped and looked at Mark. “Hey.” Mark slowly turned to look at him, and I saw something pass between the two. Mark nodded.

Ivy put the tray in the oven and set the timer.

They worked in silence, so I stepped into the other room. Brandon and Reagan still held on to their father like a lifeline. Moore caught my eye as he came in through the dining room and held up his phone and a finger to show he’d be right over. The smell of cookies filled the room, and I felt my appetite kick in and moved back to the kitchen.

“Ivy,” Mark said over his shoulder, “do you believe that things happen for a reason?”

“Only when I can make sense of it,” she admitted as she pulled the tray from the oven and set it on the cooling rack. I had to agree with her. There were way too many things that were wrong in this world to believe in something like that. “Why do you ask?”

“I just can’t help but think you were brought here to help us get through all this.”

“Well, if I wasn’t, Doc Roberts is here.” Classic Ivy. Whenever any praise came her way, she shared some of it with others.

“Roberts is great, but you,” he paused, “you’re somethin’ special. Cole was right to fight for you.”

“Fight?”

“Yeah. Frank wanted you back to work directly with Eagle Eye, but Cole wasn’t going to let you go without a fight. Keith spoke on your behalf, too.”

“Really?” Her face lit up.

“Even Ty did.” He shrugged at me. I guessed some secrets were meant to be shared.

“I didn’t know that happened.” She eyed me. “I must say that’s really nice to hear.”

“Thanks.” He put some cookies on a plate. “I’m going to go see if they want some.”

“You’re welcome,” Mark responded to their thanks. It was nice to see the kids perk up and take a cookie each. Mark took a seat next to Keith and began to speak quietly.

The Blackstone way of understanding each other was my goal for my team. I couldn’t have asked for better mentors than these guys.

“So, you spoke on my behalf?” Ivy broke a cookie in half and popped a piece in my mouth. I pulled her to me.

“Did you really think I was going to let you leave?”

“I just didn’t know Frank was considering pulling me for his team.”

“He brought it up to Cole the other day while Keith and I were in the room. We gave him our feelings on it.”

“Yeah, and what were your feelings, exactly?” She nibbled on the cookie.

“That you leaving wasn’t an option both for professional and personal reasons.” I slipped my hand in her hair. “That the house needed you as much as I did.”

“That was a pretty big admission.”

“You’re worth it.” I gently brushed over her lips then stepped back. “I need to go meet with Frank. I’ll find you later?”

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