Oliver Read Online Free PDF Page A

happened.
    “I’m presuming the two of you never had children?” Oliver pulled the remains of a fruit tray from the depths of the fridge and slid it on the island as Merideth slipped onto the seat next to Lucas.
    “We did not,” she quietly replied.
    Oliver looked up. Merideth sat rigidly, her hands folded on her lap. The message was clear. It wasn’t a topic open for conversation. Odd. The issue of children was one of the many things that had dragged the three of them apart. Oliver had wanted no part of parenting then. Now?
    Older. Wiser. Clock ticking.
    “Married?”
    “Never.” Short, snappy, irritated.
    “Boy, you really haven’t kept track of us.” Lucas’s response dripped sarcasm. For someone who wanted something out of Oliver, Lucas had one hell of an attitude at times. But when they were in sync…
    Oliver shook the rambling thought away. “Why would I bother?” Oliver could be just as irritable. A voice inside said, Finish it. Say it. Tell the truth. Be the adult in the room. Don’t make things worse.
    He pondered that a moment. Telling them to get the fuck out would solve the situation. Oliver knew the voice would nag at him until he hunted them down again and brought them back. God, he’d gotten soft in his old age. He preferred to think of it as wiser.
    He splayed his fingers on the counter, bracing himself for the impact of what he was about to say. It would make him vulnerable, give them a weapon to wield against him. If they dared try it, he wouldn’t hesitate to tell them to leave and never think twice about it.
    No, only a thousand times for being fool enough to put myself out there.
    Oliver drew in a breath, then let it out. “Why would I bother, when doing so would only remind me how badly it hurt when you two walked out of my life?”
    Their shoulders sagged in unison. Tension seeped from the air.
    “Would it help you to know that we regretted it almost immediately?” Merideth said softly.
    “Yet you made no effort to return.” He glanced up, watching a tear trickle down her cheek.
    “You made it fairly clear there was no coming back,” she replied.
    “But here you are.” He’d tried to take the sting out of his words and realized too late he failed.
    Merideth jerked her quivering chin up. The act lacked fire and defiance…and screamed pain. “You made me once, Oliver. I need you to do it again. I need myself back. I need you both.”
    Those words again.
    He pushed away from the island and returned to sorting through the containers of last night’s get-together leftovers for a quick meal. “There are bathrooms in every bedroom. Go wash the travel away while I take care of this. You have luggage?”
    “In the rental outside.” Lucas stood. “I’ll get it.”
    Oliver waited until he walked out the door before turning his attention to Merideth. She’d yet to budge, leaving him to presume she was waiting for her things.
    “You’ve let yourself go,” he told her. “Given up. Let them win.”
    It was a brutal truth she needed to hear. Streaks of silver cut through her auburn hair, which would have given her a classic look had she bothered to keep it healthy. The once glossy waves were dull and ratty on the ends. If anything, the silver strands gave it some life.
    She’d bitten her cuticles ragged. Her knuckles were red and cracked. Dark circles rimmed her bloodshot hazel eyes. Her eyebrows were overgrown. She was unshaven. Granted, these could be a fashion statement, but Oliver doubted that. The Merideth he recalled, the one he’d seen photos of over the years, took great pride in her appearance.
    “You’ll want to know everything,” she said.
    “In due time.” He’d find out what he could by his own methods first. Oliver opened the lid on a container of veggies and offered it to her.
    Merideth cautiously peeked inside and extracted a zucchini spear. “Does this mean you’ll help me?” She bit off a small piece and chewed.
    “I haven’t decided yet.” A lie