20. Oliver

Chapter 20

Oliver

I went over to Lexie's cabin the next morning to check on her.

Her sister's car was in the drive and a smaller version of Lexie answered the door.

I blinked at her. "Gillian?"

She smiled. "Oliver. Coming over to check on my sister?"

"Exactly. We also, uh, had plans." I wasn't sure how much to reveal, knowing that Lexie liked to keep to herself.

"Ah, yes. The police station. She has to give her statement to the sheriff, right?"

"Right. We both do."

I was also filing a restraining order against her ex so that if he ever showed up on my property, whether it was here or at the Pig, he would immediately be arrested.

"She's still not feeling great, but I know she wants to get this done," Gillian said, seeming happy to be taking care of her sister.

They hadn't always gotten along when they were younger, so I had to admit I was surprised to see her buzzing around the room, cleaning up, before going into the bedroom and then returning with a smile.

"She's getting dressed," Gillian said.

I watched her curiously. "How are your parents?" I asked, not sure how to make small talk with someone I hadn't seen since she was a kid.

"Okay, last I heard," she replied with a shrug. "We don't really talk much anymore."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's for the best," she said, smiling at me. "I want you to know, I'm really grateful that you've been helping Lexie out, giving her a place to stay, a job..."

"She earned it," I said firmly, and I really believed that. Even though she didn't technically pay rent, Lexie had more than made up for that by being so great at the Pig, and at the grocery store. She'd filled two positions that might have taken weeks to fill.

"I'm sure she has," Gillian answered, and she bit her lip as if she wanted to say something else. I was about to ask her what it was when Lexie walked into the living room, looking pale.

I went to her immediately. "Are you okay?" I asked in a low tone.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice raspy. "Just a stomach bug."

I frowned, suspecting more that it was stress than anything else. Lexie had always been susceptible to stress-related illnesses.

"Are you sure you want to do this today? We could reschedule?—"

"No," she said firmly, cutting me off before giving Gillian a quick hug. "I want to get it over with." She turned to her sister. "See you next week? "

Gillian nodded, smiling, and then waved at me slightly as she walked out the door. I waved back, feeling a little out of the loop.

"What's next week?" I asked.

"Doctor's appointment," Lexie answered flatly. "Just a checkup, since I got so sick."

I sighed in relief. "That sounds like a good idea."

Lexie was dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She looked great in my opinion, her hair swept back from her face with a headband. I wanted to lean down and kiss her, but I hadn't forgotten that she wanted her space. That she'd cut things off.

It still stung.

We walked to the car and I smiled sheepishly, pointing at Trent in the backseat. "My mom is out with friends, so we have to take the rugrat with us."

She laughed. "I never mind him tagging along. Even if he does think I'm a witch."

I snickered. "I think I've got it through his head that you're not."

"Good to know."

I opened the door for her, and she slid inside. As we pulled out onto the road, Trent piped up from the backseat.

"Are we going to the fire station?"

"No, buddy. The police station. And you need to be extra good while we talk to the sheriff."

"Do I get to hear the sirens?" he asked, bouncing in his car seat.

"Maybe," Lexie answered, smiling. "But probably not. It's pretty quiet in Wagontown."

"Aw, man," he whined, but he didn't complain any further and I was grateful.

At the sheriff's office, Reese met us in the lobby. He looked down at Trent, blinking, and I gave him a sheepish smile.

"No babysitter," I explained.

"That's all right," he said. He turned, calling out for someone named Mariah.

She rushed into the lobby and looked down at Trent, smiling.

"Hello, there. I'm Mariah. What's your name?"

"I'm Trent!" he answered, bouncing on his heels.

"Hi, Trent. How would you like a tour of the station?"

"Do I get to sit in a police car?" he asked, still bouncing. I smiled at Mariah and then down at Trent, finding his exuberance adorable.

"I think that can be arranged," Mariah said, taking Trent's hand and leading him deeper into the office.

Lexie watched Trent with a smile, but I noticed that there was a dullness to her, somehow. I supposed it was because she was sick, but I still hated seeing her that way.

I took her hand as Reese led us into a small room. She didn't react, but she didn't pull away, either. I hated that we'd broken things off before all of this happened. I wanted to comfort her, wanted to be there for her, and I felt like now, I couldn't be.

"Let's start with your statement, Ms. Tripp," he said, and Lexie took in a deep breath.

"It was about six-thirty. I was working at the Pig in the Poke, and my ex, Dick…Richard, came up to me. He called me a name."

"What name?" Reese asked.

"A whore," she said quietly, and my shoulders stiffened. I wished I'd hit him harder. "And then he grabbed me, told me it was time to come home."

"That's when you came in, Mr. Stanhope? "

It felt strange, Reese calling me Mr. Stanhope since he'd only been a year above me in high school, but I allowed it.

"Yeah. I just kind of snapped," I admitted. "I tackled him, and we fought. He got a couple of body shots in, and I returned a few punches myself. When he got up, he ran off."

"I tried to stop the fight," Lexie commented, and Reese nodded, scribbling something down on a notepad.

When he was finished writing, he turned off the tape recorder, and looked directly at both of us.

"I have to be honest with you two. Other than the restraining order, we've got nothing to hold him on."

"What do you mean?" I asked, frowning.

"I mean, the things that happened, they aren't enough to arrest him. Unless he breaks the restraining order, we can't haul him in for nothing."

"But he tried to kidnap her," I argued.

"We don't know that for sure. He said it was time for her to come home, but other than grabbing her hand, he didn't actually try to remove her from the scene." Reese paused. "And if he wanted to, he could actually file assault charges on you."

"He wouldn't!" Lexie gasped.

"He might," Reese countered. "You never know about people, especially guys like that. They try to manipulate every situation."

"Sounds like Dick, all right," Lexie muttered.

I tried to put my arm around her, but she moved away, clearing her throat. Disappointment washed over me.

"That's all for now unless you have any questions. Keep us updated if you see him around town," Reese finished, and I nodded, standing up .

"Don't worry," I murmured to Lexie as we waited for Trent in the lobby. "I'll take care of this."

"Oliver, please don't do anything crazy," she warned.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied innocently, although I'd been thinking about hiring a private investigator to find him and run him out of town.

"He could get you in trouble if he decides to file assault charges. You don't need that."

"I want to keep you safe."

"Let the cops do their jobs," she said, but I wasn't sure I trusted the cops. They didn't seem to be taking this too seriously, and I wasn't about to allow Lexie to get hurt.

Trent ran up to us, raising his arms for me to take him. I picked him up, his blue eyes wide with excitement.

"She showed me the sirens," he grinned.

"You're a real police officer now," Mariah said with a wink, giving him a little play badge they probably had on hand for the kids.

I pinned it on his T-shirt and Trent grinned so widely I could see every single one of his teeth.

"Let's get out of here and get some lunch," I said, realizing it was close to noon.

"Could you drop me off at home first?" Lexie asked tiredly, and I frowned.

"You need to eat, Lex."

She didn't argue, she just listlessly walked to the car and got into the passenger seat before I could open the door for her.

What was going on?

"Are you all right?" I asked when we pulled up to the restaurant. She turned to me with a weak smile.

"Just still feeling sick," she admitted.

"They'll have soup or something light," I promised .

We entered the restaurant and sat in a back booth. Lexie ordered a half sandwich and a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup.

She barely ate any of it while Trent chowed down on his double burger. The kid loved meat and couldn't seem to get enough of it. Growing boy, I supposed.

"That's a big burger for a little guy," Lexie pointed out.

"I could eat two of these," Trent said proudly, his mouth full, and I nudged him with my shoulder.

"Table manners, Trent."

"Sorry," he mumbled, his mouth still full, and Lexie laughed.

"You're such a good dad," she commented quietly, and there was something almost sad about the way she said it. Was she thinking the same thing I was? That it should have been the two of us with kids, not just me alone?

I knew it was stupid of me to think that way. That wasn't how things were, it was simply how I wished things were. Lexie had broken off our recent chance at being together. She didn't want me and it was starting to grate on me, especially since I was trying so hard to help her through this difficult time.

It wasn't that I expected anything in return, but I felt I deserved some sort of explanation as to why she had ended things so abruptly.

I breathed in deeply, knowing we couldn't have this conversation around Trent. Lexie was quiet throughout the rest of the meal, barely touching her food.

She would chat idly with Trent but would basically ignore everything I said.

Anger was starting to roll over me like a tidal wave, and I didn't like the way it felt. I didn't want to be angry with her anymore. I'd been angry for too many years, and it was time to let it go.

"Are you sure you're all right?" I asked again in a low tone while Trent was occupied coloring, and she huffed out a breath.

"I'm fine. I'm sick, Oliver. And you don't have to worry about me. I'm not your problem. Not anymore."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I snapped, unable to quell the anger. I'd been trying to help her all day, and she'd been nothing but cold or downright mean.

"It means you don't have to try so hard," Lexie hissed. "It means you can just take me home. It means you don't have to help me."

"I know that I don't have to help you. I want to, Lex. I care about you."

"Do you? That's news to me." She stood up. "I'll walk home."

Trent looked up at me upon hearing that, his eyes wide. I was angry that Lexie was being difficult, but I was angrier that she'd started this in front of Trent.

"Fine," I said, motioning for the waitress to bring the bill. We sat in silence until it arrived, and I immediately handed the server cash, telling her to keep it. She looked at me in surprise—I didn't want to wait for her to bring back the change, so she ended up getting a very nice tip.

Lexie got up from the table first, storming through the restaurant and out the door. I took my time, waiting for Trent to gather his coloring project and snagging one last fry.

When we got out to the parking lot, I secured Trent in the back then slid into the driver's seat and started the car.

"Daddy," Trent said quietly from the backseat. "We can't just let her walk home." His voice was small and worried, only making me angrier at Lexie.

I sighed. "I know."

I spotted her stalking down the street, and I drove up next to her, rolling the window down.

"Come on, Lex, I'm sorry. Just get in the car. Let me drive you home."

I didn't want Dick to show up and harass her again. After a minute or two, the thought must have crossed her mind, as well, because she finally got into the car.

"Sorry," she muttered. "I haven't been myself lately."

That's an understatement, I thought but didn't say out loud. I didn't want to worry Trent any more than he already was.

She was reacting to the stress of Dick being in town, and I knew that, but it didn't make her actions and words any less hurtful.

I didn't think I'd ever understand women.