Free Unforsaken by Lisa Higdon Page A

child caught hold of her hand and turned for the door. “Let's go! Let's go picnic!"
    "I'm not going with you sweet—Sarah.” Handing the basket to Matthew, she resisted the urge to smooth the little girl's bangs out of her eyes and clasped her hands behind her back instead. “You and your father are going to spend the day together."
    "There's no reason you can't join us. Is there?"
    She raised her eyes to find Matthew studying her uncertainly, and she wished she could say she had other plans. Instead, she bit her lip and tried to think of a plausible excuse.
    Sarah held tight to her hand. “Please, Livvy, please!"
    She looked into the little pleading face and felt helpless. She hesitated before asking Matthew, “I wouldn't be intruding?"
    His face softened with a grin. “Of course not."
* * * *
    Olivia had only visited Matthew's farm once, after his father had died, but she hadn't stayed long or even gone inside the house. Even so, there was no mistaking the maintenance that had gone undone—the paint on the house was faded, two shutters were missing and one upstairs window was boarded up.
    "There was a storm last fall,” he explained. “A limb off that elm tree crashed right through the window."
    "Oh, my,” she murmured. Olivia wondered if that room was his bedroom, but she didn't ask. “How frightening."
    Sarah was delighted to be home. She scrambled down from the wagon and ran toward the back of the house. The yard was neat and bare, and Sarah ran toward a giant oak tree. “Look, Livvy, my swing!"
    "She calls you Livvy?"
    Matthew was right beside her, but she didn't look at him. She knew he was referring to the irony of his child using the same pet name he had so many years before but merely said, “I suppose it's easier than Olivia."
    He crossed the yard and helped the little girl into the swing. With a gentle push he set the swing in motion, and Sarah held tight while the breeze tugged at the ribbons in her hair.
    Olivia turned toward the porch and placed the hamper on the top step, taking in the almost spartan appearance of the place. There were no flowers planted anywhere, just a grassy expanse of yard leading to the tilled fields that surrounded the house on three sides. To the south was the sloping pasture behind the barn where the livestock grazed.
    "Watch me, Livvy!” Sarah called impatiently, swinging higher. “Watch me!"
    "I'm watching.” Olivia retraced her steps and bestowed her undivided attention on the child. “Be careful."
    "I'm sorry I didn't have anything better planned for the afternoon. I thought it would be a good idea for her to spend some time at home.” Matthew paused, hesitantly adding, “I hope it wasn't improper to invite you here."
    She was surprised at his concern, but then, they had both been brought up under the same strict code of what was and wasn't acceptable for a lady. “Oh, don't worry about me. Aunt Eula says one of the best things about being an old maid is not having a reputation to guard."
    Olivia could have bitten off her tongue, but the words were out before she thought twice. Eula could joke about things like that and get away with it, but Olivia feared she sounded self-pitying. She forced a smile in spite of the look of dismay on his face.
    "I didn't mean—” She wasn't sure how to apologize for the remark or if she even should. “There's nothing inappropriate about my being here with you and Sarah. In fact, I appreciate being included."
    Sarah finally tired of the swing and gave Olivia a tour of the farm, introducing her to several barnyard animals. To her amusement, they all had names and knew when they were spoken to. As a child, pets of any kind were never allowed in her home, and Olivia declined the opportunity of petting a pig or shaking hands with a rooster.
    Just inside the barn, Sarah cried out for Olivia. “Hurry, Livvy! Oh, look!” Olivia peered over the child's kneeling form to find a mama cat dutifully tending four tiny kittens. “Aren't