Chapter 177
021% 13:31
Back in the apartment, the air seemed lighter after my conversation with Timothy. I couldn’t help but
smile as I saw Olive as she bounced her legs on the couch. Once she spotted me, she sat up and
ran to my side.
“I can’t believe Uncle Timothy lives right next to you!” she said, her excitement evident.
I suppose they’d never had the chance to be properly introduced until now. Regardless, she
seemed to have instantly taken a liking to him. “Can I see him again?” she asked innocently..
I hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. “Another time,” I replied gently, not
wanting to delve into theplexities of Timothy and. I’s situation.
N?velDrama.Org (C) content.
Olive’s gaze returned to the window, her mind seemingly racing with questions. It was a weekday,
and the persistent ticking of the antique wall clock reminded me of her obligations.
“Shouldn’t you be in school?” I inquired.
“I’ve always been homeschooled,” Olive admitted. “I do have homework to doter.”
Homeschooled. I considered the implications of that as I nced around the apartment. A flicker of
sympathy welled up within me, because I was hardly as good of a distraction for her as her potential
peers could’ve been.
Emergency calls only Chapter 177
#021% ■ 13 37
I rose from the couch, moved toward the television set, and switched it on. The screen flickered to
life and I began flipping through channels until a children’s program came on the screen. As I
walked off, my mind began to wander to a time when my own life had been marked by the absence
of a
mother.
Mia, my mother, had left when I was just ten years old. Her departure coincided with my father’s
growing dependence on alcohol, and I still remembered the tears in her eyes as she reminisced
about the life she could have had if I had never been born. Her words had etched themselves into
my memory, carving out a deep wound that never truly healed.
Scarlett was not the type of mother to abandon her child. Her departure was the kind that only
happened through
My reverie was abruptly interrupted by the jarring ring of my phone. ncing at the caller ID, my
heart clenched with a mixture of dread and anticipation. It was Timothy. With a quick nce at
Olive, I stepped away to answer the call.
“Evie,” Timothy’s voice crackled on the other end. “The hospital just called. Scarlett still hasn’t
woken up. They say there’s a chance, but…”
My heart sank as I listened to the uncertainty in his voice. That could’ve meant a lot of things. At
least, that’s how my mind rationalized it.
I felt a tug at the corner of my shirt and peered down to see Olive by my side. I hadn’t even noticed
she’d moved from the couch.
“Is Mommy going to wake up?” she asked, peering up at me with questioning eyes.
I cupped a hand over the phone to muffle Timothy’s voice. “Um, I’m going to have to call you back,
okay?”
“Sure,” Timothy said. “Talk to youter.”
Emergency calls only. Chapter 177
After hanging up. I knelt down, my eyes meeting hers with a heavy sigh. “The doctors are doing
everything they can,” I told her gently, wishing I could promise more. “We just have to keep
hoping.”
Olive nodded slowly, her gaze filled with a wisdom that far exceeded her years. She brushed a lock
of her auburn hair behind her ear and whispered. “They need to fix her soon, so she cane to
my birthday.”
The mention of her birthday tugged at my heartstrings. “When is your birthday, Olive?” I asked,
“It’s tomorrow,” she replied, her voice soft and uncertain. “But I’ve never celebrated without
Mommy.”
Her words pierced through me, reminding me of the countless birthdays and milestones that had
been tainted or even missed altogether. My thoughts. wandered to the things I had missed out on,
the moments my own mother had never been there to share.
I took a deep breath, determined to be there for Olive in a way my mother hadn’t been for me. “We’ll
celebrate your birthday, Olive,” I said with conviction. “We’ll make it special, and then you can tell
Mommy all about it when she gets better.”
A glimmer of hope flickered in Olive’s eyes, and a smile graced her lips. “Can I invite my friends
over for a sleepover?” she asked, her voice filled with
excitement.
The prospect of hosting a sleepover party filled me with a mix of anxiety and nostalgia. I’d never
been particrly good with kids, and my life had revolved around work and personal struggles.
However, Olive’s happiness was more important than ever now, and I was determined to make her
birthday a memorable one.
“Of course,” I agreed with a grin, hoping tha
my enthusiasm would mask my apprehension. “We’ll n the best sleepover party ever.”
Emergency calls only
Olive’s eyes sparkled with joy, and her small arms enveloped me in a tight hug. I couldn’t help but
smile and squeeze her back.
021% 13:31
Olive and I spent the day gathering supplies for her uing birthday sleepover, filling the small
living space with balloons, streamers, and the unmistakable excitement of an impending
celebration. As I hurriedly arranged a stack of colorful party hats, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of
satisfaction and even wonder at the festivities toe.
Just as I put the finishing touches on the decorations, the front door swung open and Aria entered.
Her movements were sluggish as she threw her keys on the kitchen counter and kicked off her
boots.
“Hey, Aria,” I greeted her with a warm smile.
“Hi!” Olive chirped after me, waving her tissue paper pom–poms.
“We’ve got some exciting news,” I continued, stepping down from the step–stool.
Aria approached, her curly hair disheveled and her eyes heavy with fatigue. She eyed the
decorations curiously, then responded with a forced smile. “What’s up, Evie?” She slung her bag
onto a chair and looked around. “Are you throwing a party or something?”
As Olive beamed with anticipation, I gestured toward the festively decorated room. “We’re going to
help Olive celebrate her birthday with a sleepover tomorrow. We’ve got all the decorations ready.”
Emergency calls only Chapter 177
21%) 1331
Aria’s eyes widened with rm, and the fatigue that had weighed down her features was reced
by a growing sense of panic. “A sleepover?” she stammered. “With kids? I…I don’t know what to do
with a bunch of kids, Evie.”
I chuckled. “It’s all right, Aria. I’ve got the big things covered, like decorations and nning. You
don’t need to stress about anything. Just be here with us, and we’ll make it a memorable day for
Olive.”
Aria’s tension eased somewhat, but her concern still lingered in her eyes. “Are you sure about
this?”
I reached out to her, cing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I am. I’ll handle the logistics, and
you can just rx and enjoy the celebration with Olive. It’s her special day, and we want it to be
perfect.”
Aria let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders slumping. “Well, I wouldn’t want to let Olive down. I guess
we it should be all right.”
I smiled at her. “You’re the best!”
She smirked at me, shrugging off my hand as she retreated to her room. “I’m well aware.”