THE HEIR OF HAVILAH

EIGHT

Olivia was just about to ask what those words meant when Grace broke through the swinging door used to go in and out of the kitchen. When she saw Olivia and Thalia holding hands, the woman was shocked.

"You've met, then?" whispered Grace," her voice was as surprised as her facial expression.

"Hi, Grace, what's up?" Olivia releases Thalia's hand. He moved quickly toward the housekeeper Havilah, hugging the woman. "Come on, don't cry" whispered Olivia, patting Grace on the shoulder, hoping she herself wouldn't cry.

"I can't help it." Grace's fat shoulders trembled slightly.

"I knew.

Thalia approached slightly, suddenly wrapped her arms around Olivia's legs and joined them in their arms. "I'm scared."

Olivia and Grace immediately dropped their arms, focusing on the boy. "No need to fear, Thalia, "Say Olivia is gentle, soothing.

Thalia shook her black-haired head, her eyes widening miserably. "You Miss Olivia?"

"Call me Olivia."

"You came because Uncle Harry died?"

Next to Olivia, Grace shook her head." I should have told you last night. I'm really ashamed of myself. I've tried."

"Tell What?" Olivia investigates the eyes of her housekeeper. Grace's eyes are reddened. In fact, Grace's normally joking and friendly face swelled up in tears.

"I don't dare."

"Oh, come on," urged Olivia. "What's up, Grace? You're speaking completely nonsensical.

"You have to tell her" Thalia told Grace.

"I'm Thalia Corey." His hand pulled Olivia's. " Are you going to hate me?"

Olivia looked down, looking at the little girl in silence. What did the kid just say?

Olivia's head swirled around as if she was about to faint. "How old are you, Thalia?" Olivia asked, thinking: This is Jason's daughter. Who does this kid look like? he doesn't look like Jason or Megan. But this kid clearly looks familiar.

"I'll be seven years old soon" Thalia announced proudly. "I'm taller than kids my age. I'm as tall as my friend, Danny, but I don't like reading stupid comics."

Olivia turned her eyes to Grace, so her eyes were shocked. "What's really going on here, Grace?"

Grace was agitated. "I don't have the right to tell you, Livvy."

"Tell what?

That Thalia arranged this house?

That he called Harry Uncle Harry?

Where's Thalia's house, Grace?

Where's mommy?

What the hell is he doing here?

He said he took care of you."

"Basic Naughty," said Grace, shaking her head.

"Don't be angry" Thalia said, observing Olivia's expression.

"Don't ask Grace. Ask Dad."

"Your father's here?" Now Olivia is so irritated that she no longer knows if she can handle the situation.

"I'll take you to meet Dad" Thalia offered. "You can try to be friends again."

"Never!" Excited Olivia with her chin raised.

"Of course you can. You're all grown up. You guys should try." Thalia's eyes, round and pleading, stared at Olivia's shocked face.

"Tahlia, honey," Grace tried to stop the boy's innocent comments.

"Stay here. I'll call Dad." Thalia's voice was really firm. The boy is very mature for a child his age.

Olivia stepped in front of the boy. "No, thank you, Thalia."

"Sorry, Thalia, but it's better if I don't meet your father right now." Additional until forever, it is not spoken but as if clearly heard.

"You must know Dad doesn't hate you" Thalia pleaded.

"You must think I'm so bad, Livvu."

Grace** hands tightly. "I'm really embarrassed. I should have warned you." The confession made Grace cry again.

"Grace Please." Olivia tried to win the woman over. He can't blame Grace for not telling him. Grace is just following orders.

"Poor grace!" Thalia tried to calm Grace down by hugging the woman's stocky body.

"It's okay. Don't fret. Daddy's coming soon."

"Dad's here," a man's voice sounded from somewhere outside the porch. "Thalia, come out" said the voice firmly. "Why did you leave without telling me?"

"Just stop by to see Grace's state," Thalia hardened her volume, but did not move at all.

"Next time tell me first."

Jason took off the dusty work boots, leaving them on the porch. "You spoil him, Grace." With a look down, Jason entered the front door. " Every time I work near the house, Thalia runs away"

Jason puffed up, saw Olivia. His astonishment was so great that his voice broke as he said the last words. Waves of heat roared, boiling as if he had just touched a power cord. "Liv!" The palms clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Grace who was already very agitated saw the moment as an opportunity to step aside. Grace moved quickly, clasped Thalia's hand tightly and led her out of the kitchen muttering something about chocolate ice cream.

With the strength of determination, Olivia remained standing there. His heart told Olivia to leave, doing nothing but stand there and face off against the man who betrayed her. He held on to the stairs to establish himself. Jason can't hurt her anymore. Olivia wouldn't let that guy do it. Why did tears start to tear my eyes? thought Olivia. He opened his mouth, but his throat was so tight that words could not come out. Seeing the man made all the feelings that he had been craving to reappear.

Oh God, don't! please Olivia in my heart. There must be something very wrong with him. He managed to nod stiffly, not realizing that the turmoil of his emotions emanated clearly in the eyes. Six more years have passed, but those old memories have afflicted him again, shame, anger, endless heartbreak, a physical longing for Jason, even though the man has betrayed him. It all came back very real, as if it had just happened yesterday.

"We thought you'd be here this afternoon." Jason's voice seemed to break the stifling silence.

Olivia swallowed the young with great difficulty, restraining her anger. Self-control is very important.

"I didn't expect to see you either" Olivia said coldly.

"What are you doing here, Jason?"

In the end, Olivia must know.

"I work here, Liv," Jason said, unknowingly approaching the woman. Seeing the woman standing before him was almost like a miracle, like a dream, while Jason thought he was going to do something really stupid trying to hug Olivia or worse, he said he still wanted the woman. That's not gonna work. All his life, Jason had never seen such a cold woman.

"Stay there. Don't come near me" Olivia warned Jason ketus, stepping back in a clear motion.

"Sorry." Jason paused a few steps from the woman, covered in hatred for himself." I didn't mean to scare you, Liv. We need to talk."

Olivia forced herself to laugh, her voice completely devoid of humor, "I don't want to say anything to you, Jason. I want you to go." There is a pleasure in seeing the corners of Jason's face become stiff. The man looked older, strong, hard and handsome. The worst part is, it looks like Jason's used to being in control.

"I'm going to go with pleasure, Olivia," Jason said. "After you give me a few minutes. I need to explain some things Harry didn't tell you.

"What for example?" Olivia didn't want to look at the man, but couldn't turn away. Jason was wearing work clothes that supported the man's assertion that he was working in Havilah. The dark blue shirt hugs his broad shoulders and muscular chest, the jeans hang low on his slender hips, perfectly fitting his long legs. Her clothes were simple but very appropriate to her body. Jason took off his work boots before entering the house and the man stood upright more than 180 centimeters tall, wearing only dusty socks. The overall effect is a very interesting natural sensuality.

Olivia felt her forehead sweat. A sense of self-inflictedness covered him, rendering him helpless. He should have remembered Jason's great mistake, instead of responding to the man's real masculinity.

Where is my pride? thought Olivia. From the beginning he knew he wouldn't be ready for this meeting, but obviously hoped for more than this.

"I knew you were in Havilah when Harry died" Olivia said, feeling no need to hide her anger. "I know you were the first to know Harry died, I want to say goodbye to him."

"Of course, I can take you, of course" Jason softly bargained. "The corpse is in the funeral home."

"House likes Aronson?" Olivia felt her tears well up, then blinked to get rid of her.

"Yes." Yeah." Jason knew how sad Olivia was.

"I can go there myself." Olivia refused the man's offer.

"I don't need you Jason. It's too late to pretend to be friends. I'm tired, my journey is long. What do you want to say? I doubt your news will interest me. So you work here? I don't know why Harry would let you work here. I can't forgive you at all."

"Can we talk in the library?" Jason proposes." Sounds are creeping in this hallway."

From Jason's nostalgic frown, Olivia knew the man thought his son could hear their conversation. Olivia according just for that reason, walked first to the living room that looked beautiful and graceful as usual. He turned to face the man, had no other choice and felt his right forehead throbbing violently. He even rubbed his forehead. "You only have a minute, Jason, and then I want you to leave Havilah. How could your wife agree to you coming back here?

Aren't you managing the farm in Outback?"