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This is all I need He’s not giving o Not even for my mother

‘She’s mine,’ Miller states coolly, calmly, and confidently ‘Not even you will rob her from me’ His almost unreasonable pro dare you’ He turns and strides out of the Society, htly knotted scarf that will never be undone

‘You have to let go now,’ Miller murmurs intohi into his hair ‘Olivia, co tears, I peelmy eyes on the sodden collar of his crisp white shirt My makeup has rubbed off on it There’s mascara and pink blush mixed and eh I don’t need to see him to know a frown has just appeared on his handsome face

‘It’s fine,’ he replies, confusion rich in his tone, confirht ‘Here, jump down’

I relent and detach myself from his tall frame with his assistance, then stand before hi to face his perplexity He’ll demand an elaboration on my nonchalance I don’t want to elaborate, and no a willstare ‘Let’s go get Nan,’ I practically sing, pivoting andMiller behind, unquestionably confused I don’t care As far as I’m concerned, what just happened never happened I slip into the seat and shut the door, et to Nan, desperate to take her honore the heat of his eyes onto reach forward and flick the stereo on instead I sht City" blasts froood few seconds have passed and Miller still hasn’t started his car, I finally pluck up the courage to face hihter ‘Chop-chop’

He barely contains his recoil ‘Livy, what’

I reach up and pushhi my way to his throat when I’m certain he’ll let me continue without interruption His Adaulps ‘Just us’ I smile and watch as his eyes narrow in uncertainty, his headfrom side to side slowly Then he returns my smile with a small one of his own and takes my hand to hiscomfortable in the leather seat,I do an incredible job of centringher lovely face, listening to her spunky words, feeling her squidgy body when I take her in a fierce hug, and relishing in the ti It’s ets the pleasure of all of those things Just me She’s mine

‘For now I’ll respect your request,’ Miller ine over, and I look out the corner ofexactly the sa his words and his look, which tellsI know this, but for now I have the perfect distraction and I’ to throw myself into it completely

The hospital is horribly hot and stuffy, but crazily a source of calm My feet march on with resolve, likethe object of my distraction plan without delay Miller hasn’t said a word since we pulled away frohts, which have been blocking anything thaton once I lay randmother His palm is wrapped securely aroundsoftly into my flesh I love how he knohat I need, and I need this Hi else

We round the corner into Cedar Ward, and I i that elation I was depending on soar My pace picks up, eager to make it to her, and when I enter the bay of beds where I know her to be, every lost piece ofin her chair, fully dressed in her Sunday best, with her huge carpetbag resting on her lap And she’s hooting bursts of laughter at the TV I relax under Miller’s hold and stand watching her for the longest time, until her old navy eyes pull frohter, and she reaches up and brushes the hysterical tears away from her cheeks

Then her sht run and hide and my happy heart quicken, but noorry Does she know so? Is it written all overthe re it off

Her harshness restores that happiness in a second, andis off disappear She must never know I refuse to risk her health further ‘I’ it to look at his watch ‘They said four’

‘Well, I’ve been sitting here getting a numb arse for the past hour’ She frowns ‘Have you cut your hair?’

‘Just a trim’ I reach up and pat it down