You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 725

“Is Aunt Tina okay?”

An orange rolled to Selara’s feet. She picked it up, wiped her hands with a tissue, then grabbed another orange, peeled it, and handed it to Grace.

“Aunt Tina...”

Grace took a breath, accepted the orange, and popped a segment into her mouth. Just like that, the conversation faded away.

Once Grace was gone, Selara leaned over to Patricia. “Do you know about the whole thing between Grace and Oliver?”

Patricia nodded. “Oliver told me.”

Selara lowered her voice. “Honestly, if she wasn’t an elder, and if Grandpa wasn’t still around, Oliver would have cut her off ages ago. Things look peaceful between our families now, but once Grandpa...”

She trailed off. After a moment, she finished quietly, “It’ll all fall apart.”

Patricia nodded. When people don’t get along, any family gathering is just a mess of hidden agendas. Sometimes it’s better to keep your distance.

She noticed everyone else in the living room, laughing and chatting. Selara was the only one sticking by her side. “You should go have fun with them. You don’t need to babysit me.”

Selara shook her head. “No way. Oliver asked me to keep you company. He says it’s for you, but really, he just doesn’t want anyone talking trash to your face.” Her meaning was obvious, and Patricia understood right away.

“Don’t worry about it,” Patricia said. “Oliver helps me with the kids, I help him by keeping his wife out of trouble. Fair enough, right?”

Selara laughed. “Honestly, Oliver gets the short end of the stick. Sara and Colton are both a handful.”

Later that night, Oliver had a bit too much to drink, but he wasn’t completely out of it. Lydia came by with some hangover soup and told them to get some rest.

Patricia felt a flash of frustration. Was he really still hung up on that? Hadn’t she already made it up to him back in Riverdale?

“A new place just makes me feel uneasy,” she said.

“That’s it?” he asked.

“That’s it.”

He studied her for a moment. “And now?”

Patricia smiled, a little embarrassed. “The first time’s always awkward. The second time, you get used to it.”