(Derek)
We walked back to the house after finishing our ice cream. Olivia had been quiet since the park, but she seemed calmer, more at ease.
I tried not to let Rebecca’s stunt keep eating at me, but it was hard. The way Olivia held my hand, squeezing it gently as we walked, kept me comforted. She had a way of making everything feel manageable, even when it wasn’t.
When we got inside, I headed for the kitchen.
“What do you want for dinner?” I asked, trying to sound upbeat.
“How about pasta? Something simple.” She shrugged, but then her eyes lit up.
“Pasta it is,” I said, grabbing ingredients from the fridge and pantry. Olivia set the table while I started boiling water and chopping vegetables. I put on some music and a playlist we both liked and within minutes, the house felt light
