You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 791

Moss barely registered stepping out of the elevator. He was still lost in thought when he grabbed Jackson’s arm. “What did you mean back there?”

Jackson rolled his eyes. “Are you clueless? If you want to solve your problems through someone else, you have to make sure there’s actually a problem, even if you have to stir one up yourself. That’s how you play rough. Get it?”

“Everyone says business can’t be done without a little scheming. Why are you so squeaky clean? Read too many law books? Are you scared?”

Suddenly, it clicked for Moss. This was about setting someone up. “Or maybe you just don’t care about the law enough.”

Jackson snorted. “You think those people care about the law? I might be a little careless, but they don’t care at all. What’s the point of playing fair with people who don’t even know what fair is? That’s just asking to get walked all over.”

Once they were in the car, Moss buckled his seatbelt and said, with a hint of meaning, “Now I get why Colby said what she did about you.”

Jackson glanced over, annoyed. “What did she say about me?”

“Nothing.”

Jackson’s grip on the wheel loosened. He shot Moss a sour look. “If you’re gonna start something, finish it. Otherwise, watch out for bad karma.”

Moss turned his head and caught Jackson’s wounded, dramatic expression. He tapped his brow. “She said you don’t play by the book.”

Jackson just stared at him, speechless.

…

Patricia stayed in the hospital for five days. The minute the doctor said she could go home, she couldn’t wait to get out. She told Marian to start packing. They were headed back to the Chelsea apartment.

Marian tried to convince her. “Chelsea’s place is tiny. And your uncle and aunt are coming back soon. It’ll be cramped with so many people. Why not just go back to Cloud Peak? It’s way more comfortable.”

Patricia pouted and looked over at Maggie.

Maggie reached over and patted her arm. “You can stay wherever you want.” She shot Marian a look that said, let it go.

On the day Patricia was discharged, Jackson was the one who came to pick them up. On the drive to the apartment, he kept stealing glances at the black Bentley trailing behind them in the rearview mirror. He couldn’t help thinking, What’s the point of all this? If you knew it would end up like this, why did you do it in the first place?

Back at the apartment, Marian stayed for the day and helped out, making meals and heading back to Cloud Peak at night since there just wasn’t space for her to sleep over.

Friday evening rolled around. Patricia got home from work just as Maggie and Marian returned from grabbing groceries. The kitchen smelled amazing, with mushrooms and pork ribs simmering away in a clay pot.

Patricia changed out of her work clothes. Maggie came over with a little hesitation. “Pattie, how about inviting Oliver over for dinner tonight?”

Patricia froze.

Before she could answer, Maggie continued, “I’ve been back for a while now, but we haven’t really sat down for a family meal. Don’t you think it’s time?”

Maggie looked at Oliver, a little surprised. “What’s all this?”

“You’ve done so much looking after Patricia. I didn’t know how else to thank you, so I picked up a few gifts.”

Maggie’s eyes widened. “These are too much.”

“It’s nothing. You came all the way from the northwest because of me and Patricia. I already feel bad enough about that. I know gifts are just things, but I’ve had all I can handle just worrying about Patricia lately. I hope you don’t mind.”

Maggie thought to herself, how could I mind? These gifts could buy a small apartment in Riverdale. She wouldn’t dare complain.

“I’ll go see Patricia,” Oliver said.

Maggie was about to say something, then stopped herself. “Hang on…” She disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a bowl of snow pear soup.

Oliver took the bowl and headed to the study. He raised his hand to knock but stopped when he heard voices inside.

“If it doesn’t work out, just get a divorce. Divorce rates are sky-high these days. It’s not like I can fix it on my own. Marriage is like the old kingdoms—when it’s time to break up, you break up.”

“So what if there’s a kid? Tons of women raise kids on their own. It’s not like I’d be the first.”

“No one walks down the aisle thinking it’ll end badly, but if it comes to that, what can you do…”