Chapter 22: Chapter 22

They knew she was coming home that day, but she still wanted to surprise her family. So, Olivia asked the taxi driver to stop outside the farm entrance. Walking wasn’t fast enough, so she trotted on like a little child in a candy store. She walked through the entrance to Oakdale Farm. It never got old, especially when the sun is just about to set.

When Olivia walked up to the house, she saw more than just the family truck in front; Gilbert’s car stood beside the truck. Her heart pounded from excitement. She didn’t even ring the bell, just opened the door and rushed in.

“Drinking peppermint tea without me,” Olivia shouted, with a smile on her face. All worries and thoughts about Tyler were gone in a flash.

Her whole family’s faces lit up when they saw her. They jumped up and welcomed her with embrace.

“Olivia!”

They all looked at her like she was a jewel which had never been seen before.

“What? I haven’t been away that long,” Olivia replied, laughing at herself.

She could truly say now that she was happy. Her whole heart exploded with love and gratitude. Never before had she felt this loved, except with…. Her mind quickly put that thought aside, before it flooded her with too much emotion. This is where she belonged, not in the city or an apartment block. This is where she felt like her true self; this is where her heart belongs. To whom? She still didn’t know.

The family sat by the fire with cups of tea. A plate of cookies was regularly passed around. Eve was sitting on the ground, her mouth covered with cookie crumbs. She kept looking up at Olivia, smiling and showing off her dolls and Legos.

“Olivia?” Eve finally said, unsure who the woman in front of her really is.

Olivia’s eyes welled up with love as she told Eve to sit on her lap.

“Yes, Evie. I know exactly what we could do together.”

Eve looked up to Olivia in anticipation, waiting to hear what she is going to say.

“Do you know how to ride a horse?”

Eve shook her head, her ponytails swinging with the motion.

“Well, Poppy and I would love to show you.”

“Yes!” All of them laughed at Eve. Lilly looked at Olivia with loving eyes.

Olivia and Eve spent the whole night together; no one could separate them. They even went outside to look at the stars. As Olivia held Eve’s hand, she wondered what her children would look like some day. Will she ever be a mother? Will Tyler…. It’s as if her mind had already made the choice for her.

“Eve, someday when you’re a big girl…,” Olivia started, thinking over her next words carefully, “you need to follow your heart. It will get hurt, but you’ll get stronger from it and move on.”

Eve stared at Olivia, not understanding what she meant. She just nodded.

Somehow, Olivia didn’t believe her own words. Her heart knew what it wanted, even if her mind did not want to cooperate and move on. She decided to go against her heart’s desire.