Page 117 of Mr. Almost

Ari smiles up at me. “Both.”

The door opening has me pausing to listen. I’m not expecting anyone, but whoever it is has a key.

“Honey, I’m home,” Olivia calls out as she walks through the door.

“Welcome home, Livvy. In the kitchen,” I yell to her.

Within seconds, I hear her walking through the entry. Looking over my shoulder, I smile at her. She looks like she’s had a rough day. I want to hold her, but I can’t at the moment. I need to finish with Ari.

“Hi, Mommy. We are making a cake.”

Olivia walks into the kitchen, kissing Ari on the head before kissing me on the lips.

“That looks fun. Have you figured out dinner?”

“I didn’t expect you home so soon. I can order something while the cake bakes.”

“That sounds like a plan. I’m going to go change.”

I hurry up and finish the cake with Ari and send her to her room to play while it cooks. Then I go in search of Olivia.

I find her standing in front of the mirror in the bathroom, brushing her hair absentmindedly.

Coming up behind her, I wrap my arms around her.

“Livvy, what’s going on?”

She sets her brush down and holds onto my arms. “I had a shitty day. Kendra said some really nasty things to me, and I had to call security to escort her out.”

“I’m sorry. I’d ask if you want me to fire her, but it seems you already did. I can make sure she doesn’t get a letter of recommendation, though.”

She sighs. “That’s not what’s bothering me. Danielle is handling it already. I had to go to the office, though.”

“Is that still an issue?”

“The memories I have up there are so bad. I keep hoping the new ones I make each time I go up there will make it better, but it doesn’t. It was the worst day of my life. I want to get over it,” she says, the pain visible on her eyes.

“You think a new, positive memory will help?”

“It can’t hurt, right? It doesn’t matter. I’m being silly about it. It was years ago. It was all a lie anyway. I have you here now and you’re showing me each day that none of that matters.”

“I will keep reminding you too. I love you, Liv.”

“I love you too, Mase.”

We stand like that for several minutes before I finally kiss the side of her head.

“Go get Ari and pick a movie. I’ll order food and check on the cake. We can have a family movie night.”

“That sounds like just what I need.”

She leaves the bathroom, seeming a little better, but still not quite herself.

I hate that my mother ruined this for her too. It seems like it all comes back to her. Her actions deprived me of time with my daughter. Now her actions have traumatized the love of my life.

I hate that there’s nothing I can do about it.

I head into the kitchen, checking on the cake. Then I lean against the counter and order food.

---