Chapter 92 Kellan

Chapter 92 Kellan
KELLAN’S POV:

The sun had long since set below the horizon, an amber twilight wrapping itself around Alex's estate. I stood beside the front door with Olivia-the softness of her hand in mine. Tenseness in her fingers spoke louder than words not formed upon her lips-she didn't want to leave. I couldn't blame her. It had been a haven, a place of refuge from all that Carl put her through.

Alex filled the doorway, his sharp suit as perfect as always, but with a hint of a smile softening what was a hard steep countenance into something less unbending. "Finally leaving?"

“Yes.” I nodded. "Thanks, Alex; I really don't know how to thank you for this."

He waved it away. "You don't. You just take care of her. That's all I ask.”

She leaned in a bit closer to me and flashed a small, genuine smile across the room at Alex. "Thanks, Alex; I really don't know what we would have done if it wasn't for you out there."

Alex gave a slight incline of his head. "You have been through hell, Olivia. Just focus on healing. The rest will take care of itself.”

As much as I welcomed his gentle conviction, I knew the storm raged on below. Deep within Olivia, the slashes ran, and no soft words could rid what Carl had perpetrated. But I would see she was never alone again-ever-not even for the flutter of a heartbeat.

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "We really have to go. Brian's making some arrangements back home."

Alex did raise an eyebrow. "Arranging what, pray tell?"

“Family meeting,” I said, the corners of my lips twitching upwards. "Both sets of parents at my house. I have a few things to share."

Alex held my gaze a little longer before glancing at Olivia and nodding in understanding. "Good luck, then. Let me know if you need anything else."

I nodded once more, gesturing Olivia toward the waiting car.

The ride back to New York was silent, but not the quiet, peaceful kind. Olivia sat beside me, her gaze out the window, her fingers twisted in the hem of her sweater. Not a word had come from her lips since we'd left Alex's estate, but I knew what had stormed in those green eyes that were full of thought.

"Hey, are you okay?" I softly asked her.

She turned then, a faint, forced smile twisting the corners of her lips upwards. "Yeah. Just… nervous, I guess."

"Nervous about what?"

She hesitated, dropping her gaze in her lap. "Seeing everybody again. It's been two years, Kellan. What if they don't…”

"Don't finish that sentence," I interrupted, reaching over to take her hand in mine. "They love you, Olivia. They never stopped. And today they finally get to hold you again. Trust me, they will be over the moon."

Olivia's lips shook but she nodded. "I hope so."

As we pulled up to my parents' house, I could already see the cars lining the driveway. Brian had done his job well, it seemed: both of my parents and Olivia's were already inside. I felt my stomach twist in my abdomen as I reached over to help Olivia from the car. It should have been a moment to find joy in, but really, it felt like those two years had just swung over us, hanging its dark shadow over our faces.

"Ready?" I asked her, turning to her.

She filled her lungs with air, her fingers clenching in mine. "Ready."

We reached the door, and about the time I would have been able to knock, the door swung open. Mom was standing in the doorway, wide-eyed with surprise.

"Kellan? Is that-"
Her words trailed off as her eyes landed on Olivia.

It was as if time had just stood still in space. Then my mom lets out this strangled sob, clapping her hands over her mouth. "Oh my God. Olivia."

Before I could respond, my mom flung herself at Olivia, catching her up in a bone-crushing hug. Tears streamed down her face, holding on to her as if she might disappear on her again.

"Mama, let her breathe," I teased in a very low voice, though my throat felt tight.

Besides her was my father-bleeding with shock, tamed. "Olivia," his voice hinged as he leaned and gathered her into far gentler arms.

"Hi," the weak-shaken voice whispered back low, "good seeing you again."

Footfalls pounds down the hall before Olivia's parents burst into view. Her mom came to an immediate stop, her eyes volleying back and forth between Olivia and me in a look of complete and utter disbelief.

"Olivia?"

"Mom," Olivia whispered. Her voice shook.

Her mom sobbed and pulled Olivia close. "It's you. It's really you. I thought I'd lost you forever."

Her father walked in, embracing them, his face etched with overwhelming joy, tears brimmed, yet about to spill. "We prayed every day, Olivia. Every single day."
I took another step back and gave them their space. Enough it would seem to stir the lump in my throat, having Olivia reunited with her parents, and her alive and safe home where she belonged.

Brian's voice cut through the emotional haze. "What the hell happened? How'd you find her?"

The attention turned toward me and my throat suddenly lumped. "It's… a really long story."

Mom waved towards the living room. "Well you'd better start talking, then. Come on everyone, sit down."

We sat back into the room: Olivia sat close against me on the couch; her parents opposite us-never having let her hand go-my parents perched at the edge of the seats and hanging onto my every word.

I plunged in. "Two years ago, Carl… he manipulated Olivia. He saved her from the accident that took her memory, made her believe she waa someone else. It wasn't until recently that I found her again, and it wasn't easy getting her back. Carl didn't want to let go. He…" I caught myself as I began turning toward Olivia.

She nodded silently to keep talking.

“He did awful things to her,” I whispered, “things that I would never be able to forgive him for. Finally, he is behind bars, and he can never again do her any harm.”

Gasp-like sounds spread around the room and Olivia's mother clutched her chest in tears, "Oh, my poor girl."

Anger pursed Dad's jaw and shook his head. "That monster, they should let him rot in prison.”

Mom leaned forward and curled her hand over Olivia's. "You're safe now, baby. You're home and nothing will ever happen to you again."

The room was silent for a minute, the weight of what I had just said finally settling in. Then Brian leaned forward, furrowing his brow.

"Olivia," he said cautiously, "what exactly happened when you disappeared? What did occur that day, two years ago?”

Tension had rigidified her beside me, her hand clutched in a vice around mine. Her eyes darted frantically about the room-her face a mask of fear and panic.

"I… I don't know," she stammered. "It's all… blurry."

"Try to remember," Brian urged low. "Anything you can."

She took a quick breath, filling her lungs, and I laid my hand consolingly on her knee. "It's all right, Liv. Take your time."

She closed her eyes, furrows deepening across her forehead as the concentration deepened. "I remember … Sharon. She was there. She came into the room I was locked in…" Her voice tapered off and her eyes sprang open, terror in them.

"What?" I asked, my heart suddenly racing.

"She … pushed me," Olivia whispered, shaking, "off a cliff.”

The room erupted in gasps, but I didn't pay any attention to any of that. That cold rage had built in my chest again. Sharon.