Have Hope

Chapter 20

"A journey of forgiveness is always a right choice."  Auliq-Ice

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Chapter Twenty

Ruth did not stay. There were too many hard feelings between her and her family for them all to be resolved in a day. For her daughter at least, things seemed better. She parted with Olivia on terms that were not as hostile as they had been four years ago. They seemed to have a new understanding for each other.

"Write to me, Olivia, so I have your address wherever you settle," Ruth murmured. She liked to keep her tone cool but Olivia sensed the genuine maternal concern in her mother's voice. "You know where Papa and I live, and you are welcome to visit." That almost sounded kind. Ruth quickly added, "Just write to us before. It is polite, you know."

Olivia hugged her mother tightly. She remembered practically scolding Kit when he was harsh towards her mother. Ruth was not a warm or particularly kind woman, but she was the only mother Olivia had, and she loved her anyway. All these years she had thought Ruth didn't care about her. This visit had proven otherwise, and Olivia felt such relief.

Ruth carefully patted Olivia's back in return. "Come now. I have a journey ahead of me."

"Are you sure you will not stay, Mama? Not even for dinner?"

Ruth shook her head. "No. Much needs to be said before I sit down to dinner with my father and siblings," she said coldly.

Olivia held her tongue, but she wished her mother would not hold such a grudge towards her kind aunt. Lorna was nearly two decades younger than Ruth after all, she had been too young to carry much of the blame for what happened.

Ruth left, and shortly after, Olivia departed as well, letting her aunt know that she would return before sundown. Lorna had protested but it was something that Olivia needed to do.

She asked the carriage to take her to Norwood Cottage, the estate belonging to Kit's family. She knew it would be quite an imposition to visit on Christmas, and they might be sensitive to her presence anyway, but she could not stay away. Having now reconciled, in a way, with her mother, Olivia wanted to speak with Kit's father.

The carriage pulled into the gates of Norwood Cottage around lunchtime. Cottage really was a silly name for such a grand, manor house. What it must have been for Kit growing up here. It looked even more magical with the soft snow that had settled on the green overnight.

The carriage stopped in front of the entry steps and the driver helped Olivia from the carriage. The front door had not yet opened, so Olivia journeyed up the steps and knocked on the large, oak door. She could hear the noise echoing inside.

Olivia suddenly felt a flurry of nerves settle in her stomach. She had come with good intentions but she knew that Kit's family did not like her. His father, at least, held a great prejudice against her because of her parents. Olivia hoped that her aunt still had affection for her.

Olivia had been standing at the front door for nearly two minutes before it was opened. She immediately was standing before Cassian.

Olivia found him to be intimidating. He was tall, not as tall as Kit was, but much taller than her, and his eyes were charcoal black and hard, especially when they settled upon a Pendleton. His mouth was rigid and his jaw was tense and his brows immediately furrowed.

Olivia never minded what people thought of her. But she minded that Cassian did not like her. She minded a lot, and she wanted to change his mind.

Upon looking at him more closely, as Cassian continued to look down at her, she could see more emotion in his face. His black eyes were hard, but they were sad, and she could see the shadows under his eyes. They were very pronounced, indicating that he had not had a very good night's sleep in a long while.