Page 134 of The Lost and the Found

“Thanks. I think I’m just ready for this one to be born.”

“I’m sure everything will work out,” I said confidently. Olivia was glowing with good health. And perhaps it was the pregnancy glow, like they said, but I think it had more to do with her own wellness than anything else.

“I hope so. I think I’m more nervous about Mason’s reaction than I am about the labor. I know that probably doesn’t make any sense.” She grimaced and placed her hand on her belly.

“Why do say that? Is he really nervous?”

“Mason is really, really protective of me.”

“Yes,” I agreed. From what little I saw of their interaction with each other, I could see how precious Olivia was to Mason. I couldn’t imagine what he must be like when it was just the two of them. Probably much more intense.

It was hot.

Mason was an attractive man. And even though I was hopelessly in love with Logan, I could admit that there was just something about Mason that made him entirely too appealing to ignore. But whereas Logan was real to me, Mason was like a piece of art. Something aesthetically pleasing, but never to be obtain. At least, not by me.

Olivia on the other hand…

She had Mason wrapped around her little finger.

“He’s always been like that. And it’s just the two of us now. I mean, I guess you can say he’s also protective of his brother, but it’s different, you know?” I nodded. I knew, because Logan was the same way. He was much more protective of me than he was of Veena. “Now, I just can’t imagine how he’ll be when we bring this little one into the world.”

I smiled. “I think it’s sweet. There are a lot worse things in life than a protective and caring husband and father.”

Olivia relaxed back into her chair, her hand rubbing her swollen belly. My words seemed to help. “I know. I know how lucky I am. And you are, too, you know?”

I took a bite of my muffin, avoiding her eyes.

“What? Don’t you think Logan is as protective and caring for you as Mason is for me?”

Oh, I knew he was. In fact, I was still getting used to it. I had never felt more cherished, and that scared the crap out of me.

“Do you ever feel like Mason is hiding something from you?”

She smiled. “Yes. At the beginning of my relationship with Mason, he was hiding something pretty big from me.”

I nodded. Olivia already told me about that. “I think Logan is keeping secrets from me, too.” Olivia opened her mouth, and I shook my head, stopping her. “Not the same thing as Mason was keeping from you, obviously. But I feel like I’m missing something. It’s always right there in front of me, yet I can’t put my finger on it.”

Olivia stared at me and I fidgeted. “I know I sound pretty paranoid right now. It’s just, I don’t think I’m wrong about this. But I don’t know what that secret could be, or why he’s keeping it. Is it to protect me in some way? I think that’s what I am most afraid of.”

She reached across the table and patted my hand. “Have you tried talking to him?”

“I don’t know how to bring it up. Not when I don’t even know what it is.” But ever since my meeting with Veena, I knew there was something I didn’t know. And I knew I’d seen Veena before. I just didn’t know where. There was also Mathew, with his strange reactions and Logan’s mood after introducing us. There was just something off about the whole thing.

Olivia sat back, her warm brown eyes taking me in. “Maybe you should start out small. Tell Logan what’s been bothering you, or,” she shot me a look, “tell him what it is you suspect him of keeping from you.”

I took a sip of my coffee, hiding my smile. “Hmmm.”

“I’m sure whatever it is, everything will be fine. You’ll find it in your heart to forgive him.”

“You think so?”

“Oh, yeah. What Mason kept from me was huge. I’m still with him.”

“And he’s a lucky man. I’m not so sure I’m as forgiving.”

“No?”

I shrugged. Who knew? Olivia and I grew up differently. Maybe not so vastly different, but different enough. That would impact how we each see the world. Perhaps my experience had made me less forgiving.

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