chapter 45
Liv’s heartbeat boomed through her body. She leaned forward in the chair, her Hello strangled.
Huge brown eyes scanned the room and collided with hers. Livana blinked, tilted her head. A dimple appeared in her pink cheek and a beautiful, shy smile stretched across her face.
She’d waited six years for that moment, imagined it every day, and never expected one smile to connect her to life so completely. It was a floating sensation, as if all her past and future failures were lifted. Her soul had everything it needed right there in that room. She tightened her fingers around Josh’s hand.
Livana entered before Carolyn, her dark hair swishing around her shoulders in long waves.
Ladybugs embroidered her t-shirt, and her tiny hand clutched a mini-tablet, which connected to the ear buds poking from her ears.
“Livana?” Carolyn closed the door and regarded Liv. “I’m sorry. She’s got this thing with music.
Always singing.”
Josh’s thumb brushed over her fingers, and a sense of unity drifted through her, balancing her pulse into a slow, happy beat.
Livana approached, her mouth moving silently, her knees bouncing to some unknown melody. She paused a hug away, and her delicate chin raised. Her lips parted as she stared into Liv’s eyes.
Carolyn tugged an ear bud from Livana’s ear and sat two chairs away. “Livana, this is Liv and Josh.”
A tentative hand reached toward Liv’s face with starts and stops until tiny fingers brushed her scar. Too soon, the gentle touch fell away.
She couldn’t breathe, her throat too thick. She gathered her voice. “Have you seen a mark like this before?” She tapped her scar. Carolyn wouldn’t know why she was asking.
Livana shook her head. “Nah uh.”
It was a sad confirmation. Livana had never met her father. Liv hunched down to peer at her dainty features. “What are you listening to?”
Those brown eyes widened, fringed with Van’s thick lashes. “Katy Perry. She’s really pretty.
Like you.”
Oh God, that sweet voice. A tingle burned her nose. “May I?” She gestured at the dangling ear bud.
Livana nodded enthusiastically and shifted to sit in her lap. Carolyn watched with tense shoulders, but a small smile touched her lips.
Liv’s pulse thrummed in her throat as she released Josh’s hand. She lifted the beautiful girl, hugging her close and adjusting the ear buds. One in her ear, the other in Livana’s. A tiny finger swiped through Katy Perry songs on the tablet and selected “Unconditionally.” The tune clapped through the ear buds. When Livana’s vocals launched, strong and perfectly pitched, a shiver crept over Liv’s skin, raising the hairs on her nape. She sought Josh’s eyes and found him watching her, his arm propped on the table, a knuckle resting against his lips. Behind his hand, the corners of his mouth curved, his gaze warm with affection.
The chorus kicked in, and she joined Livana’s voice in a higher octave, their tones harmonizing as if they’d sung together for years. They watched each other, smiling, laughing when Liv stumbled over the words.
When the song finished, Livana flashed a toothy grin. “You sing good. Let’s do another one.” She swiped the screen on her tablet.
Carolyn pressed her fingers to her lips, her eyes watery. “Well.” She smoothed her skirt and gave a shaky smile. “That explains Livana’s beautiful voice.”
Liv felt taller, stronger. She’d passed on something of herself, something that was considered beautiful. And she’d done it without meeting her or touching her. Her heart froze then pounded with overwhelming wonderment.
A dozen Katy Perry songs later, Livana said goodbye with her arms wrapped around Liv’s neck.
“Would you like to see Liv and Josh again?” Carolyn asked.
Liv’s heartbeat thrummed heavily, sluggishly. Ripping Livana from the only mother she’d ever known would be so damned selfish. As badly as Liv wanted to demand custody, no one would benefit but herself.
A tingling sensation fluttered in her belly. She wasn’t a self-serving monster. Not anymore.
Livana grinned, looking up at Carolyn with love and trust. “I’ll bring the music.” Carolyn clasped her hand. “I bet they’ll come see you whenever you want.”
“Thank you,” Liv mouthed to Carolyn.
Two hours later—and after a stop behind a deserted building where she thanked Josh passionately for coming with her—they walked into his parents’ house. Actually, she danced. She wiggled her hips, bumping into his as he walked. Her heartbeat drummed in her chest. A light-hearted feeling dispersed through her body, loosening her muscles. She was high on laughter, and his beautiful smile and playful shoves spurred her elation as she spun around him, rejuvenated by the best day of her life.
As they flitted around one another through the sitting room, his hands tackled her ribs, wrenching a laughing scream from her lungs. She pivoted away from him and collided with the hard, narrowed stare of Mr. Carter.
He stood in the kitchen doorway, his distaste evident in the pressed line of his lips. “This was in the mailbox.” He handed her a confidential envelope, addressed to Liv Reed in typed font. No postage stamp. No return address. Her stomach tumbled.
Josh led her to his room and closed the door. His hard jawline sawed side-to-side. “I don’t think I can handle any more surprises.” He paced the small room, pivoting between the spartan furnishings.
A twin bed with a handmade quilt. A dresser with a bottle of aftershave. Shelves lined the walls displaying years of football trophies. He stopped in front of her, crossed his arms, and waited.
Adrenaline flared through her veins, firing her brain to act. She sat on the bed, tore the seal, and slid out a single letter. The name, address, and phone number of an international bank in the Cayman Islands printed across the top. The body of the letter included three lines.
Liv Reed
Account number 00145481720
Balance $6,000,000