He left out that Olivia was a pregnant ex-convict, unsure how Rose would react. The tea party wrapped up around eleven. James walked her out and tidied the leftovers. Jobless, he fired up his laptop to scour job boards. Every listing demanded skills or education he didn’t have. Manual labor was his only option—grueling, no-skill work.
His life shifted. He worked outdoors now, caring less about vague dreams. Had he come to Detroit for this? He’d settled in the city, but what now? Childhood memories resurfaced—fighting for every choice in foster care. Without his grit, where would he be?
He longed to know his parents, but they were gone, having abandoned him. Sleepless nights followed, his life trapped between work and home, with no room for love. Rose was right—loneliness hurt, especially with age. Her own kids barely visited, only when it suited them. James feared that future.
Two weeks later, he settled into his new job, pushing thoughts of Michael aside. But Olivia lingered in his mind. He tried not to dwell on her—she was pregnant, with her own burdens. But the urge to see her grew. One day, at the bus stop, he saw the elderly woman again, waving with her heavy bag. He closed his eyes, and when he looked, she was gone.
— A hallucination? he muttered. — I’m healthy, aren’t I?
He swore off work on Saturdays for rest. At home, after feeding Shadow, he dozed on the couch. But Shadow’s pitiful meowing woke him.
— What’s wrong, girl? Miss me?
She hissed, her fur bristling. Scratching at the door startled him. Forcing himself up, he approached as the scratching became a firm knock.
— Must be Rose, he thought.
But it was Olivia, dressed in a sleek coat.
— Hey, remember me? she said brightly.
— Yeah, hard to forget you. Come in, or you not feeling it?
— Sorry, I’m off today, James said, letting her in. — So much has gone wrong, I’m scared to even talk about it.
— I thought you forgot me. Took a lot to find you. Didn’t expect to get lost in Detroit so easily.
— City swallows people whole, James said lightly. — But you’ve been away a while, so no surprise. Sorry for bringing up your past.
— It’s fine, Olivia said, heading to the kitchen. — I’ve got catching up to do, but one thing’s certain: I can’t erase my past. It’s got stains I’ll never clean.
— Hold on, what do you mean? James asked, sensing her meaning.
— This, she said, pointing to her belly. — All the secrets are here. If you’ve got time, I’ll tell you.
— Sure, I’m off work, no rush.
— Hungry? James asked, putting the kettle on.
— No, I ate at a restaurant.
— What’s with the look? Can’t figure out how I turned things around so fast? Or where I got the cash for a restaurant?
— Honestly, yeah, James admitted. — That day you nearly fell under my car, you had worn-out clothes, oversized shoes, no money. By the way, you didn’t rob that bank, did you?
Olivia laughed, touching his hand.
— No, it’s all good. Didn’t need to rob a bank—I took what was mine.
Her words hung heavy. James worried she meant theft, but a pregnant woman pulling off a heist seemed unlikely. To ease the tension, he spoke calmly.
— Glad you didn’t break the law. You’ve paid enough. What happened, anyway? Why’d you end up inside?
Olivia sipped her tea and began.
— Long story, but here’s the start: I got pregnant by the prison warden.
— No way! James choked, nearly spilling his tea.
— Yeah, true. He promised parole. Humiliating to admit, but it was my only shot at freedom. I got pregnant, and he took me for an ultrasound. Twins—two boys. Can you imagine?
— Not really, but I get it, James said carefully. — Never heard of an inmate getting pregnant by a warden. Usually, women are already pregnant or have visits.
— But why? You won’t love them.
Olivia flinched, hurt. James regretted his words, remembering how vulnerable she’d seemed at their first meeting. Her transformation and openness now threw him.
— Look, I had no choice. I needed out to settle a score.
— Got it. So, you got pregnant on purpose for revenge.
— Don’t judge until you hear it all.
— Fair enough, I’ll shut up. Go on, James said, sipping his tea.
That evening, Olivia shared her painful past. It began with humiliation when her father, now deceased, remarried. Her mother had died years earlier, and her father fell for a younger woman, Elizabeth Grant. Olivia didn’t interfere, respecting his choice. He was a wealthy businessman with vast assets, giving him freedom in his personal life. Elizabeth, stunning and cunning, won him over.
Olivia was busy with her small tech startup, torn between work and home. Everything changed when Elizabeth’s son, Noah, joined the family. Elizabeth convinced Olivia’s father to take him in and later married him in an extravagant wedding. James set his mug down.
— Wait, how did your dad not see through her? He was barely over fifty, not senile.
— He knew what he was doing, Olivia said. — He craved attention and picked her.
— Sorry for interrupting, James said. — I’ve had similar issues, not weddings, but close. I’m an orphan, never met my parents, grew up in foster care, learned to drive there. That’s how I got here.
— That’s tough, having no one, Olivia said. — I learned that in prison. My stepbrother, Noah, and his mom got me locked up. They put me through hell.
— Let’s cook something, James suggested. — I know you can afford restaurants, but I can’t. Got fired, and warehouse work pays peanuts.
— Was that because of me? Olivia gasped. — You were late because of me?
— Sort of. It was an excuse. Michael had it out for me from the start, thought I wanted his job.
— Why?
— I pitched ideas to the director, like better motor oils. Kept suggesting improvements, and I paid for it.
— Your boss sounds like a jerk, Olivia laughed.
— Egoist and show-off, James said. — But he’ll hear from me yet.
They made a light dinner, and James noticed Olivia’s ease with him. A spark was growing. Looking at her belly, he asked.
— You giving birth at a regular hospital or a private clinic? And what about Noah? You said he’s why you went to prison.
— Time will tell, Olivia said. — Noah screwed me over. I trusted him with my business, put him in charge of accounting and HR.
— And he messed it up?
— Worse. He got me on the IRS’s radar and turned my employees against me. He’s a crook, and I took the fall. But I don’t regret it—I learned to survive.
— What kind?
— I learned to read people’s intentions. Our lives are similar, James. Stay here tonight. I’ll take the living room, you crash in the kitchen.
Olivia stayed, having tracked him down for a reason. She’d liked him from their first meeting and felt guilty for his firing. To her, a car was James’s true friend. As she fell asleep, she pictured a life with him, wondering how he’d feel about raising her kids. In the morning, she heard dishes clinking.
— Morning, James.
— Morning, Olivia. You’re up early. Breakfast’s coming, hang tight.
— Couldn’t sleep, kept thinking about us, she said cautiously.
— Us? James asked, feigning ignorance.
— There’s more you should know.
— More surprises? James teased. — Thought you closed that chapter last night.
— The past is done, Olivia said. — But there are loose ends. I need your help. I can’t do it alone.
— Feels like I’m back to that first day, James said, setting out eggs. — Like I’m reliving the whole mess from driver to warehouse grunt.
— I’m due soon, and I need to take back what’s mine. Noah and his mom stole my company. I built it from nothing, and they destroyed it.