The Road to Herself (part 1)
Tags: Lovestory, Family, Psychology, Weddings, Relationships

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Olivia’s hands rested nervously on the steering wheel. She had just passed another road sign. Her hometown was only 15 kilometers away. And the girl was still fighting the urge to turn back. She wasn’t ready to go back to this place. She had avoided the city she had once called her home for the past six years. And she’d be happy never to come back here again.

“God, why did I say yes,” Olivia moaned, pulling her car to the wayside. — I can’t, I just can’t do it.

She leaned her head against the seat back, closed her eyes, and took a few calming breaths. This did not bring the desired relief. She was still panicking. Then she took out her phone and dialed her best friend’s number.

“Livy,” she heard the girl’s voice immediately, concerned. “Are you okay? Have you arrived yet?”

“Grace,” Olivia said. — I want to go home. I can’t do it”

“Livy, you’re strong. You can do anything. You need to go there. This is your home. And your chance to make peace with your parents. If they didn’t want to see you, they wouldn’t have called you, “ Grace said reasonably.

“They only called me here because they’re worried about their image. Just imagine if someone finds out that something isn’t perfect in the James family.

“Livy, you haven’t been home for six years, and I think everyone knows by now that your family isn’t perfect.

“It’s more like the whole town knows how imperfect I am,” Olivia said bitterly. — Still, my parents decided to make an effort and tried to bring me back into the family. Believe me, this is exactly the version that they told everyone.

“Anyway, they’re your parents. And you’re only going there for two weeks. You can handle it. Stop whining. Where are you? How far are you from your parents ‘ house?

“Only 15 kilometers left. Much closer than I’d like. “

“Go ahead and call me when you’re settled. You’ll do just fine. Just be yourself. And try not to be rude to them. They’re your parents, they sure love you. “

“Yeah, until I was 25, I tried to believe that, too,” Olivia chuckled.

“ Olivia James…, “ Grace began.

“Yes, yes, I understand,” the girl interrupted. “I just need to go there. And I’ll go. And I can handle it. Thank you, Gracie, for your support. “

“Call me anytime, honey.”

Olivia hung up the phone and started the car with a heavy sigh. She has already drove more than 400 km. There are only 15 km left, it seems that it is really too late to back down. The girl carefully put the car on the road and drove in the direction of the city.

Liv looked around. In this city nothing has changed in the past 6 years. This is the school she went to. And here is the cafe where she and her friends ran after school to eat ice cream. And here used to be a cinema, and now some kind of trendy bar. So, after all, something is changing here too. Olivia looked across the street. And here was the library, where she spent most of her summer holidays. And in this law firm, she did an internship after the institute, she wonders if her boss — Mr. Stevens still works?

Olivia took one last look at the building of the law firm and turned onto the street that led to her house.

Olivia got out of her car and looked up at the massive house. It always seemed to her that the place where she grew up was more like a museum than a home. When she was little, she was strictly banned from run around the house, too much antique furniture and expensive interior items were in the rooms.

The girl tried to make her first apartment as different as possible. She smiled, remembering the old, worn sofa that had been in her living room. She loved it so much. Liv glanced at the house and took a deep breath. It was time to face her parents.

She walked upstairs and rang the bell. The bell rang loudly in the huge hall, and after a while a strange woman opened Olivia’s door. Apparently, a new servant.

“Hello,” the woman said politely. “You must be Olivia.”

“Yes,” the girl nodded.

“Your family is waiting for you in the main living room.

Olivia shivered slightly. The last thing she wanted, after 6 hours of driving, was to face her perfect family.

“Thank you, I’ll find the way,” the girl said.

“Olivia,” her father greeted her. — “Good to see you.”

Her mother rose gracefully from the sofa, went to Olivia, and kissed her coldly on the cheek.

“I’m glad you could come,” she said. “Marissa and her fiance will be here soon. I think you should take a bath before dinner. “

That’s all. They haven’t seen each other in 6 years, and all Olivia has been awarded is a cold kiss on the cheek and a remark that she doesn’t look good enough for her relatives.

“Of course, Mother,” the girl nodded. “ What room can I stay in?”

“Rose has prepared your old room,” her mother replied. “Her husband, Diego, will help you get your luggage into the room.”

“All right, Mom,” Olivia said, nodding again.

“Dinner’s at seven. Don’t be late, “ her father chimed in. “And wear something nice. We invited some of our friends to dinner. Everyone wants to see you. “

Olivia arched her eyebrow. Her family is willing to allow her to appear before the local community without first checking if she has forgotten how to behave properly at the table and if she is still able to maintain a small talk? This is definitely something new. But the girl did not share her thoughts aloud. She had realized long ago that the less attention she drew to herself in this house, the better. So she nodded her head once more, accompanied by a faceless “Okay, Dad,” and left the living room.

In the hallway, she met a woman who opened the door for her. With the help of her husband, Olivia’s luggage was taken up to her room on the second floor. The girl closed the door of her bedroom behind and finally managed to exhale a little. Now, more than ever, she was glad to be alone. Olivia looked around. This room was so different from the rest of the house. It was full of expensive furniture, too, but it lacked the antique knickknacks that her mother had loved so much. It was the only room in the house that seemed to have any life in it. The girl thought that her parents had long ago made repairs here, but to her great surprise they left everything as it is.

link to Part 2