Page 8 of Outrun The Devil
She prided herself on being a good mother. As Olivia navigated the complexities of motherhood, Olivia knew that her desires and dreams might need to be set aside at times.
Yet, she found solace and fulfillment in knowing that her sacrifice was a testament to her unwavering love and dedication to her child. In each active decision she made, Olivia embodied the essence of being a good mother, a beacon of strength and selflessness for her child to rely on.
Jessica was now twenty-two years old, and yet Olivia still felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. The love and protectiveness she felt for her daughter had never diminished, if anything, it had only grown stronger with time.
And now, her daughter was in college pursuing Criminal Forensics. At first, Olivia was adamantly against it but it was obvious that this was something her daughter wanted to do.
Jessica had always been her world, her everything. And yet, as Olivia looked at her daughter now, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. Jessica was all grown up, ready to take on the world. Olivia knew that she had to let go, even if it meant facing her fears.
“Fine, but don’t tell her I told you. She’s bringing him to dinner tonight so play nice, please, Mom.” Jessica pleaded with her.
Olivia's eyes widened, her hand clutching her chest in mock disbelief. “Me? Not playing nice?” She exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Her daughter rolled her eyes, a playful smile on her lips. “Oh, come on, mom. There's a reason I don’t bring any dates around you.”
Olivia chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, I can't help it if I have a sixth sense for these kinds of things,” she said with a wink. Or that she felt no one was good enough for her daughter.
Jessica laughed and shook her head. “Yeah, I know. You're like a human lie detector. But seriously, be nice to him. Grandma likes him.”
Olivia nodded, her expression softening. “Of course, honey. I'll be on my best behavior.”
She finished the last bite of her fruit just as Jessica grabbed the last piece of bacon off her plate. “Hey!” Olivia pretended to stab her hand with her fork before a grin broke on her face. “Thief.”
Jessica let out a mischievous laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well, you snooze, you lose, Mom,” she teased, waving the stolen bacon triumphantly. “But don't worry, I'll save you a piece next time.”
Olivia playfully rolled her eyes, savoring the lighthearted moment with her daughter. It was these little exchanges, the stolen bacon, and friendly banter, that reminded her of the joy and warmth that family brought into her life.
“Alright, I'll let you off the hook this time,” Olivia conceded, feigning a stern expression before breaking into a smile. She reached out and ruffled Jessica's hair affectionately. “But only because I love you.”
Jessica mockingly brushed away Olivia's hand, trying to regain her composure. “Yeah, yeah, I know you do, Mom,” she replied, her voice filled with playful sarcasm. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some bacon to devour.”
Olivia rose from the wooden chair and stacked the now empty dishes in her hands, clearing off the table. She shuffled to the sink, where the sound of running water drowned out the faint hum of the dishwasher. Her fingers danced under the stream, rinsing the crumbs and sauce from both plates, the scent of the meal still lingering in the air.
The nightmare that had haunted her for two consecutive nights now swirled in her mind, the vivid imagery and raw emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that it left her with, a nagging sense of danger lurking just beyond the surface.
Unlike her visions as of late, the nightmare was blurrier. And at the end was always this figure that she couldn’t make out. There was still a part of her that wondered if it was a nightmare or a persistent vision that wouldn’t come into proper view to make any sense of it. And that thought alone had her worried.
What could it mean? Being alone in her ability made things impossible to figure out. If only Olivia had someone to talk to about all of this. But in all of her years of digging, she’d only ever found… Weirdos who wished they had psychic abilities.
As she rinsed the plates, Olivia glanced out the open window, her eyes settling on the dark, ominous clouds rolling in from the horizon. The scent of the impending rain filled her nostrils, a cool breeze carrying the promise of a storm.
Despite her hectic schedule, Olivia had caught a glimpse of the morning news, where the meteorologist had predicted the coming deluge.
“Seems like you might need to bring an umbrella,” Jessica's voice floated in from the living room, a hint of amusement in her tone. Olivia couldn't help but smile, grateful for her daughter's easy humor in times of stress.
“That implies I own an umbrella,” Olivia teased.
Jessica chuckled and rolled her eyes playfully. “Mom, you need to invest in an umbrella,” she quipped, reaching over to grab her backpack. “I'm telling you, it's a game-changer.”
Olivia raised an eyebrow, feigning disbelief. “Oh, really? The wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze me,” she replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “But in all seriousness, you might be onto something. Maybe it's time I join the umbrella club.”
But the promise of rain did bring the promise of a brief reprieve from the heat wave that Phoenix was under. Granted, that heat wave was called summer and it came every year.
Things weren’t always this easy and carefree between Olivia and her daughter. They had their rough parts, their little arguments when they didn’t see eye to eye. Those teen years. Boy oh boy were those years a trip. Her mother didn’t hesitate in reminding her it was karma for her behavior as a teen.
But with Jessica now in her twenties, they fell into the easy flow of being good friends.
The buzz of her phone pulled Olivia’s attention. It was the captain, he rarely called her but she ignored the call nonetheless. She knew it meant one of two things: trouble or a new case. There was a third possibility, though. She might still have one more meeting with the department's therapist.