Protecting Olivia

CHAPTER FOUR

LIVY

"I'm sorry, but there is absolutely no record of an Ethan Collins in Perth, or Western Australia for that matter, that fits your description. Not even a driver's licence or bank accounts that I can find. Are you sure he gave you his real name?" The older gentleman sitting across from me gives me a sympathetic look as I bury my head in my hands. Surely, Ethan couldn't have lied about his name, right? We went to school together, there is no way that he would go through his entire high school life under a fake name.

"It has to be his real name," I mumble, mostly trying to convince myself than the private investigator I had hired. "He told me he was going to join the army, I don't know if that's true, did anything come of that?"

The man shakes his head, whisps of grey hair flowing slightly from the movement. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing on him." He says with a sigh before reaching into his top pocket and pulling out a wad of cash. "Here's your deposit back, I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help." The man stands, gathering his unopened briefcase and leaves the small café we met in, leaving me shocked with his rapid departure.

I sit there stunned, the cash still obvious in my hand before I come to my senses and quickly stash it away in my purse. After four months of being in Perth, four months of trying to find out anything I can about Ethan, I had gotten nowhere. I'd continued to try and get in contact with Kate, even trying her husband and his business until they blocked me from being able to contact them. As frustrating as it is, I do understand why, no doubt they think I'm some crackpot trying to scam money out of them. And, either Kate doesn't remember me, or someone else manages her social media.

Either way, it led me to hiring a private investigator, something I couldn't afford to do before moving to Perth. With a substantial pay rise, and a bonus for providing the artwork for a children's book, I finally had enough money to pay for one. And it produced nothing. Was I wrong about Ethan being in Perth? Or is there another reason I can't find him.

The good thing about moving over here is Matthew. His doctor has suggested a lot of trial treatments for Matthew, none of which will be as good as a transplant, but may give him a better quality of life. Matthew has also made a lot more friends than he did in Brisbane. Spending so much time in and out of hospital for the past few years, his friends soon dropped off. Here, the other children in his class flock to him, wanting to know him and accepting his condition without question.

I've also grown closer to Jane and Lucy; they have welcomed me easily into their friendship group and I've enjoyed meeting up with Nicole and Kaley when I can. Being a single mum though, with no other supports in place, I'm not always able to.

The downside is how much I miss Mia. We talk on the phone most nights, and will text each other through the day, but I didn't realise just how hard it would be not to have her by my side. She has literally been a major part of my life for so long, it's strange not to see her every day.

Standing up, I leave the small café to head to work. I'd told Lucy and Ryan that I would be late today, though didn't mention why. I haven't told them anything about trying to find Matthew's father, despite our budding friendship. To be honest, I feel like an idiot. Here I am, trying to hunt down a guy, after a decade, who never cared about me at all. He probably hasn't thought of me once since he disappeared from my life, and if he did, no doubt he laughed at how stupid and naïve I was.

It doesn't take long to walk to the office, the café situated only a block away. I open the door to an empty reception area, looking at the round clock on the wall, I realise I'm only five minutes late anyway, and Jane doesn't appear to be in yet.

Lucy appears from the hallway that leads to the offices, a relaxed smile on her face and positively glowing. I'd never seen her in such a state before that I find myself watching her curiously.

"Hey, I thought you were going to be later today?" she asks as I close the front door behind me.

"My meeting didn't go as long as I thought." I shrug my shoulders. "What has you all happy?"

Her smile widens and she lets out an audible sigh as she leans against the reception desk.

"Seb and the team returned last night. I'm guessing that's why Jane is late this morning." Lucy wiggles her eyebrows suggestively making me laugh. I hear the door behind me opens, Lucy's eyes lighting up when she peers over my shoulder. I turn my head, seeing Jane walk with a tall, incredibly muscular man with short brown hair and dark brown eyes. He's definitely hot, no one could deny that, and he just screams military with his posture and stance.

Lucy moves past me and wraps the man in a hug.

"I'm so glad you are all back safe!" Lucy states earning a smile from the man. I can't help but smile at the scene. It's obvious how close this group of friends really is, almost like a makeshift family. Jane touches the man's arm, gaining his attention and indicates towards me.

"Jordan, this is Livy I told you about. Livy, this is Jordan." I watch as Jane leans into him, looking up at him with a look of adoration. They really make a stunning couple. Jordan steps forward, eyeing me curiously and extends his hand.

"It's nice to meet you." His voice is quite deep, soothing in a way, it seems at odds with his massive body and demeanour. His eyes scan me, not in a creepy way, more as if he is trying to figure me out, with a look of confused recognition in his eyes, but it soon passes.

"You too, welcome home." I tell him, he nods his head with a small smile before stating he has to leave. After saying goodbye, I turn away, giving him and Jane their moment.

Lucy links her arm with me as we walk down the hallway towards our offices.

"We will most likely have a barbecue this weekend to welcome the team home. It will be at my house. You should come, bring Matthew." She tells me and I nod my head in agreement, happy to have these people in my life.

"Matthew has a birthday party this weekend, but I will come for a couple of hours." She smiles widely, happy with my acceptance and leaves me at my office door. I watch as she bounces down the hallway and enters her own office.

The past four months, Lucy has come across as a happy, bubbly person, but it's now that I realise just how much stress was on her shoulders. She seems lighter now, happier and relaxed. I guess that comes from being married to a soldier.