A Heart to Trust, A.L. Brooks [speed reading book TXT] 📗

the pair of them wrapped in her slender arms. For some minutes.

Finally, it was Olivia and Broderick’s turn to bestow their congratulations.

“I bet you’re relieved I got in first.” Mallory smirked as she eased out of Olivia’s hug.

Olivia laughed, making sure Katherine was still focused on Philip as she said, “Absolutely. Thank you.”

Mallory snorted. “I’d say ‘anytime,’ but morning sickness is a bitch.”

Olivia didn’t think she’d ever heard her sister-in-law use such language, and her laughter made her stomach hurt.

Mallory winked, then stepped back.

Katherine wiped tears from her eyes with a proper handkerchief.

Broderick smiled with genuine warmth at his brother; Broderick had never wanted children, but Olivia knew he would be happy for Philip.

“This is the best Thanksgiving ever.” Katherine’s voice wobbled. “I’m so happy!”

So am I, but for entirely different reasons. Olivia breathed deeply. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mallory and Philip.

Of course, Katherine would still want grandchildren from Broderick and Olivia; that desire wouldn’t magically disappear with Mallory’s announcement. But for the next few months, Katherine’s entire focus would be on Philip and Mallory, and that definitely made Olivia’s life easier.

“Okay, let’s eat.” Mallory pointed toward the dining room. “Everyone, go sit and I’ll bring out the turkey.”

Chapter 21

“Okay, do we all have our final schedules saved to the SharePoint?” Olivia asked above the background noise of the office.

Everyone was in full frantic mode; it was only twenty-four hours until Catwalk. The past four weeks had seen a gradual ramping up of activity, changes to schedules, complaints, and snags that needed to be dealt with, and with that had come an increase in everyone’s stress levels—and a decrease in their tolerance. One good result of it all was Olivia had no time to dwell on the sad state of her relationship with Jenny, nor had Chrissy had any time to make snarky comments about whatever Olivia worked on. Every cloud had a silver lining and all that.

Maxwell nodded but didn’t take his eyes away from his screen. “Got mine.”

“Yep.” Jenny spared Olivia a brief glance, then she too looked back at what she was doing.

“Of course.” Chrissy’s tone carried a hint of disdain.

Olivia knew Chrissy resented her for owning this part of their group work, organizing the SharePoint and the schedules they all needed access to. Despite what Chrissy might think, Olivia hadn’t done that as some scheme to curry favor with Derek. She was simply playing to her strengths, and it had been obvious from minute one none of the other three were as organized as she was.

“Great, thanks everyone. Any more changes from now on need to be checked with Derek and then passed to me so I can update the master schedule.” As she spoke, she saved the file. Later, she and Derek would agree on a password that would allow only the two of them to make changes to it, to avoid any confusion in the team over what had been changed when.

Around her, Maxwell, Jenny, and Chrissy all gathered their laptops and notebooks.

Olivia cursed under her breath; yet another progress meeting with Derek. She understood he needed to know where they were all up to, but he also needed to understand that progress meetings every two hours were ridiculously unnecessary.

Keeping her thoughts to herself, she hurried after everyone else as they headed to Derek’s office.

Broderick was still up when Olivia schlepped into their apartment at eleven that night. “Hey.” He paused whatever he was watching on his big TV and turned to face her. “You look exhausted.”

“I am.” Olivia eased her heavy purse off her shoulder and for the moment simply left it on the floor at her feet. Next were her shoes, and she groaned in blissful relief as she kicked off the pumps. “Remind me never again to work on a project that airs live the weekend before Christmas.”

“Bad?”

“Oh my God, you have no idea.” She gave him a weak smile. “But at least it’s only one more day, then I can collapse until Christmas Day.”

“And at least this Christmas you know my mother won’t even spare you a glance.”

Olivia snorted. “That’s true.” She padded over to sit on the arm of the couch next to him. “But she’s been wonderful on the project. So professional in all the rehearsals, and she’s charmed literally everyone. Even Chrissy seems to like her.”

“Wow, she must be doing well.” Broderick smirked.

“It’s been great to watch her at work. I think you’re going to be very proud of her when you see her tomorrow.”

“Well, I’m pretty proud of her already, but yes, I know what you mean. I’m not missing this for anything.”

“Still planning on watching it with Mallory and Philip?”

“Yes. Mallory’s insisted I come for dinner beforehand too.”

“Better than eating frozen pizza again.” Olivia tutted at him when he displayed mock outrage.

“Frozen pizza is the best and you know it. But yes, all right, I concede Mallory’s cooking is probably better for me in the long run.”

Olivia stood once more, her calves complaining after she’d been up and down all day. “Okay, I have to get to bed. I need to be up in…” She checked the clock on the wall. “Oh great, less than six hours. I’ll see you this time tomorrow night, I suppose.”

“Yes, sorry, my dear wife, but I’m not getting up at five a.m. to see you off.” He laughed when she slapped his arm.

“You always were the most charming of husbands.”

His laughter followed her down the hallway to her bedroom.

The Excelsior’s lobby looked wonderfully Christmassy, and the sight filled Olivia with joy just as it had each time she’d been here in the last two weeks, despite the awfully early start to her day. A big decorated tree filled one corner, and wreaths and glittery baubles bedecked each painting on the walls and the doorframes. It was a tad kitsch, she supposed, but she’d always been enraptured by Christmas decorations, so she didn’t care.

“Good morning,” said a quiet voice behind her.

She turned to