You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 408

Patricia pulled open the door, her heart racing, and shouted across the massive backyard, “Jackson!”

Jackson, who’d just brushed off his hands and looked ready to show off, snapped to attention at her voice. “Yes, ma’am!”

Patricia marched over, helping Colton up from the ground, her glare fixed on Jackson. “What on earth are you doing?”

“He wanted to learn some moves, so I was teaching him.”

“That’s what you call teaching?”

Jackson shrugged, lips pressed into a pout. “How’s he supposed to get better if he doesn’t take a few hits?”

Patricia took a deep breath, biting back her frustration. She stared at Jackson, at a loss for words.

Jackson clicked his tongue and shot a look at Colton, who was standing off to the side, looking like he wished he could disappear. “Come on, say something!”

Colton straightened up, wincing as he held his side. “Aunt Patricia, I asked Jackson to show me.”

“You…”

“Patty, come inside.”

Patricia turned to see Oliver waiting by the patio doors, calling her in. She let go of Colton, hesitated, then walked over to Oliver.

“Done with work?” she asked quietly.

“Let’s eat,” Oliver said, taking her hand and steering her toward the dining room.

“So, why’s Colton suddenly interested in learning self-defense?” Patricia asked as Oliver started setting out dinner.

“He probably got knocked down a peg and realized he needs it,” Oliver said, serving her plate.

Patricia couldn’t shake her worry. Jackson never knew when to hold back. What if Colton really got hurt?

“Maybe we should hire a professional instructor,” she suggested.

Mr. Padilla didn’t even look up. “Jackson is as good as any pro.”

“But he’s not exactly gentle.”

In the study, a lotus-shaped incense burner let smoke drift down like soft clouds. The air was laced with the faint scent of lemon, but underneath it, Patricia picked up the bittersweet trace of tobacco.

Oliver hardly ever smoked. Maybe a cigar every now and then, but not much. If he’d gone so far as to light incense to cover up the smell, he must have been smoking a lot lately.

“What’s this?” Patricia asked, spotting a deep purple velvet box on the table.

Oliver nodded for her to open it.

Inside lay a jade bracelet, clear and gleaming, obviously worth a fortune.

“My mother gave it to me to bring back for you. I wanted to give it to you last night, but I didn’t want to wake you,” Oliver said softly.

“This is too much,” Patricia murmured, feeling awkward. She hadn’t even met his mother and already she’d gotten so many gifts. It felt wrong to accept.

“Just take it. It’s yours,” Mr. Padilla said, his voice leaving no room for discussion.

He wasn’t giving her a chance to say no.