You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 501

After dinner, Patricia hooked her arm through Maggie’s as they stepped into the study. Gift bags were scattered all over the floor.

“You really bought this much?” Maggie asked, eyebrows raised.

Patricia shrugged. “Aunt Ellen can’t get these out west, and shipping takes ages. I figured I’d just buy a bunch for her. It’s all everyday stuff, nothing that pricey.”

Chelsea muttered, “You call a haul that costs thousands ‘not pricey’?”

Patricia grinned. “Relax, there’s something for you too.”

Chelsea’s mood instantly flipped. “Oh—well, then it’s definitely not expensive!”

Maggie shot her a glare. “You’re the older sister. Try helping Pattie save her money for once.”

Chelsea rolled her eyes. “I’m not spending it. But if she goes and blows it all on some guy, don’t blame me.”

Everyone knew Patricia was loaded. Not just rich, but the kind of wealthy that made people talk—especially since she was an heiress with no parents around.

As soon as Chelsea said it, Maggie nervously glanced at the door and smacked her arm. “Pattie’s married now. Watch your mouth.”

“Okay, okay! I get it!” Chelsea yelped, rubbing her arm with a dramatic wince.

They joked around until it was nearly time to go. That’s when Patricia pulled Atticus aside in the study, her voice turning serious.

“Uncle, can you visit the Martin family tomorrow? I want you to meet Grandma Martin and…”

***

On the drive back to Cloud Peak, Patricia glanced over at Oliver. She reached out, wanting to touch the cut at the corner of his mouth.

He turned his head away, dodging her hand.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

With Oliver’s status, he didn’t have to put up with any of it. The only reason he did was for her.

Later, Patricia thought about it—maybe stuff like this should count as responsibility. Family meant being a team. Sometimes you had to take a step back, sometimes you had to push forward. Feelings couldn’t always come first. Adults just wanted to keep things together.

“So… tonight…” Oliver started, testing the waters.

Since their last fight, things had been a little chilly between them. Patricia had been keeping her distance on purpose. He couldn’t bring himself to push her. She was his wife, his partner, his family. She deserved respect.

In the master bedroom at Cloud Peak, the shower filled with steam, water sliding down Patricia’s legs. She leaned against Oliver, her body melting into his in the haze, everything soft and blurred.

It felt reckless, like drifting through a dream.

Outside, cicadas and frogs sang their hearts out, filling the night. The noise was wild and restless, the kind that made your skin buzz.

They held on to each other, tangled up and unwilling to let go, lost in the kind of closeness where nothing else mattered.