Page 71 of Under Control
“You sound weird. What’s the matter?”
“I literally said two words.”
“You’re usually very brisk, and you just sound...tired or sad.”
She was surprised her mom had even noticed, which probably wasn’t fair. While both parents had blind spots when it came to how much their hostility hurt her, they both loved her. And she loved them.
“I’d been seeing somebody for a while and we...it ended.”
“Oh honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were dating anybody. I thought you were focused on your company right now. And your book.”
“I was. I still am. I just...”
“You just what?”
She wasn’t capable of spilling the entire story right now. It was too raw. “I just wasn’t ready for a committed relationship right now.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you, honey, but you have a plan and you know success lies in the execution.”
“I know, Mom. You taught me well.”
“I did, and look at you. You’ve made yourself a nice business and in a few years, you’ll be able to relax and find yourself a nice, like-minded man, just as you planned.” Her mom paused, and then made a smug sound. “You’re a smart woman, like your mother.”
Olivia froze, unable to summon the right words to stroke her mom’s ego as pieces fell into place. Or maybe it was more like somebody strolling through her brain, flipping on light switches. Smart, like her mother. Successful, like her mother. Focused and driven, like her mother.
Alone and unhappy.
Like her mother.
“Olivia?”
“I’m here.” She needed to get off the phone before she said something she couldn’t take back.I’m here, thinking about the fact I’ve lived my life the way you taught me and I’ve achieved professional and financial success, but I didn’t leave any room for the people I love to actuallybea part of my life, and I learned it from you.“What did you call me for?”
“Oh, I just wanted to know if you were coming home for Thanksgiving this year.”
“It’s September.”
“I know. Which means you should already know your schedule for the quarter.”
“I’ll let you know soon.” She hadn’t even thought about the holidays this year. If she had, she probably would have assumed she’d be celebrating her first Thanksgiving with Derek. Maybe she would have been meeting his parents and the rest of his family.
It didn’t matter now. If she didn’t go home, she’d do the same thing she’d done last year, which was politely decline Kelsey’s invitation to join her family and then spend the day working.
“I have to go, Mom. I made a note to look at my schedule and I’ll get back to you.”
“Okay. Keep your chin up. If it didn’t work out, he obviously wasn’t the right man for you, so stay focused.”
That was possibly the worst advice she could have given her daughter at that moment, but Olivia knew she meant well and it was the best she could do. “I will. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too. I hope you know that. And I’ll talk to you soon.”
Once the call was over, Olivia let the phone drop back onto the bed. She should make a note about Thanksgiving. She should get some work done. She should do anything that took her mind off Derek.
“Hey, Olivia, I was looking for you. What are you doing?”
“I don’t know.” She sat on the edge of her bed, looking up at her assistant. “It’s slipping away.”
“What is?”
