Mommy

Olivia's POV

5:07 p.m…Three minutes late.

I let out a quiet breath, pressing my lips together. "I'm late again."

Guilt settled in my chest. This was Lily's first week at her new school. I'd promised myself she would never feel alone. Yet here I was...standing outside her school after the bell had already rung.

The image of another pair of gray eyes flashed through my mind. "You're two minutes late, Miss Carter." My grip tightened around my phone.

No…don't think about him, not here. I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief second, willing the memory away but it didn't listen.

How could Adrian Kingston be my boss? Out of all the companies in New York…Out of all the people in the world…How had fate brought me back to him?

"Mommy!" A bright little voice behind me, shattered every thought in my head.

I looked up just in time to see a tiny figure in a navy-blue uniform sprinting through the school gates, her curls bouncing with every step. "Mommy!"

Before I could even open my arms, she crashed into me with enough force to make me stumble backward. "Oof!"

I laughed as her small arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

"There you are." I knelt down, smiling as I brushed a few loose curls behind her ear. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

Lily puffed out her cheeks, her bright grey eyes staring at me with seriousness. "Three minutes."

"You counted?"

She folded her arms. "I had to, Mrs Green said parents are supposed to be on time."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness. Com'on we need to get some groceries.”

----

Lily slipped her small hand into mine as we walked toward the grocery store, her fingers disappearing inside my palm.

"So..." she said, swinging our joined hands between us.

"Hmm?"

"How was your day at work?” 

My smile faltered, the boardroom flashing through my mind. "It was....busy."

She scrunched up her little nose. "So, it went badly.”

I frowned. "What makes you think that?"

Instead of answering, she lifted our joined hands. "My hand."

"What about it?"

"You're squishing it."

My eyes dropped to our hands, I hadn't even realized it. My fingers had tightened around hers so much the tips had turned slightly pink.

A pang of guilt hit me. "Oh, sweetheart..." I immediately loosened my grip, gently rubbing the back of her tiny hand with my thumb. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

She smiled, but her curious eyes never left my face. "You always do that when you're thinking."

I forced out a laugh. "I should be more careful around you."

She carefully pulled me down till we were at eye level, cupping my cheek with both of her tiny hands. "Whoever made you sad..."

Her voice dropped to an exaggerated whisper. "I'll handle them."

The shopping cart rattled softly as we made our way down the cereal aisle.

Lily suddenly stopped beside me. "Mom!" Her eyes sparkled.

She reached onto the second shelf and pulled down a bright yellow cereal box covered in tiny chocolate stars and a smiling astronaut. "Look!" She hugged it against her chest with a grin. "This is the one Emma brings for lunch. She said it's the best cereal ever."

The excitement in her voice tugged at my heart, I smiled and took the box from her. "Let's see." I turned it over.

$9.99. The smile on my face slowly disappeared.

The balance in my bank account flashed through my head like a cruel reminder.

My thumb brushed over the edge of the cereal box before I quietly placed it back on the shelf exactly where Lily had found it.

"Maybe next week, sweetheart.”

For a brief second, disappointment flickered across Lily's face. Then, almost instantly, her bright smile returned but I noticed it.

"Oh!" She wrinkled her nose dramatically. "I almost forgot. Mrs. Green said chocolate cereal has way too much sugar." She nodded very seriously. "It's bad for growing kids."

"Did she?"

"Mhm." She reached up and patted my arm. "I don't think I'd even like it."

My chest tightened, she was obviously lying.

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat and smiled anyway. "I think Mrs Green also said apples help little girls grow big and strong. I might've added that part."

She giggled, the sound light enough to ease the heaviness in my chest. "You're making up teacher rules now?"

"I learned from the best."

She burst into laughter, her curls bouncing as she reached for another apple and carefully dropped it into the cart.

Watching her laugh, I made myself another silent promise. One day...she wouldn't have to pretend she didn't want something just to make me happy.

One day, I'd be able to tell her, "Go ahead, sweetheart. Put it in the cart."

And I wouldn't have to think twice.

The automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh, and the cool air of the grocery store gave way to the warmth of the late afternoon.

I reached into my handbag for my car keys.

Riiip….

One of the grocery bags tore straight through the bottom, some apples slipping free, bouncing across the pavement. "Oh no."

"Stay right here, sweetheart," I said automatically, already bending down to grab the other.

I caught the first apple before it rolled away completely.

The last was just under the tire, I reached farther…Got it.

I straightened. "Lily?” I turned around when I don't get a reply. She wasn't beside the shopping cart anymore.

My eyes searched frantically until they landed on a tiny figure standing near the edge of the parking lane. "Lily..."She wasn't moving, just staring. 

A few feet away, a little girl giggled as her father knelt in front of her, carefully tying the lace of her pink sneaker. When he finished, he smiled, scooped her effortlessly into his arms, and spun her around.

Lily watched them with wide, curious eyes. Just then…

HOOOOONK! The deafening blast shattered the moment. A black SUV shot around the corner of the parking lane.

My blood turned to ice. 

"LILY!!!"