Page 99 of Shattered Mind

“I’m fine. You can go now.” She turns away from me and kneels, picking the discarded brush back up.

“Liv,” I plead.

“I’ll be home in a week.” Her tone indicates she’s done with the conversation and although I still have so much I need to say to her, I respect her need for space. I drop my head and take a deep breath beforeturning and walking away.

CHAPTER 58

OLIVIA

The next week passes in a blur of mixed emotions. One the one hand I’m sad to be saying goodbye to the house my parents raised me in, but on the other, I’m relieved it’s over.

I felt guilty at first for feeling relieved to be ridding the place of any evidence they used to live here, but now, as I do my final walk through of the empty house that holds memories I will cherish for the rest of my life, all I feel is at peace.

Grayson showing up here induced an anger inside of me that outweighed the hurt I was feeling, and I channelled that anger into getting shit done.

In a way, I’m grateful to him. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the strength to finish what I’d started here before he arrived.

I wouldn’t say I feel closure just yet. I think it would be unrealistic for me to expect packing a few boxes would somehow heal me of the grief I’ve lived with for so long. It’s been ten years, and the ache is still present in my chest every day, it just became easier to live with. And althoughbeing here has brought that suppressed grief to the surface, I know it’ll fade again eventually.

Now, I just want to go home. I want to see my best friend and cuddle my niece. I want to watch Savannah bring her second baby into the world. I want to be with my family.

I twist the key to the house off my keyring and hand it to the realtor where she waits patiently for me by the front door. “Thank you for your help.”

She gives me a kind smile. “You’re welcome, Miss Donahue.”

I walk past her and towards Carter’s car where he waits for me in the driveway, my suitcase already loaded in the back and climb in.

“Ready to go home?” he asks as he checks his internal mirror and reverses down the driveway.

I let out a long, relieved breath. “So ready.”

“I’m gonna miss you, girl.”

“You sure you don’t want to come with me?” I tease and he shakes his head with a laugh.

“Nah. London’s my home. I won’t say no to a free holiday, though.”

“You know you’re welcome anytime.” I say, hoping my tone conveys the sincerity in my words.

He’s done so much for me the last few years, the least I could do is let him stay with me if he ever finds himself in Rosewater Creek.

“Thank you. For everything, Carter.”

We come to a red light, and he stops, turning towards me so our eyes meet. “You don’t need to thank me. You gave me a home. It was a favour for a favour.”

I shake my head, tears brimming in my eyes. “It was so much more than that.”

He reaches over and wipes a stray tear from my face. “Okay. Then, you’re welcome.”

All I can do is nod as I fight to keep my emotions at bay and thankfully the light changes to green, so Carter focuses his attention back on the road.

Before long we’re pulling into the drop off bays at Heathrow airport and Carter helps me pull my bags from the boot of his car. He deposits them on the curb and turns to me, pulling me into his chest in a crushing hug. I return his embrace, my throat thick with emotion.

“Text me when you land so I know you got home safe, yeah?” he says against my hair before releasing me.

“Yeah,” I say.

“It was good to see you, Liv.”

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