Octavia knew Cindy wouldn't come to a decision overnight, but she believed in slow, steady persistence. Sometimes, you just have to keep trying, letting each gentle nudge wear down someone's resistance.
Cindy said nothing now. She knew what Fallon had done was wrong, cruel even, but the woman had been good to her for years. Was she really supposed to just hand Fallon over to the police? Cindy couldn't bring herself to do it. So she met her mother's worries with silence, hoping the conversation would just fizzle out.
Octavia was frustrated, but she knew pushing any harder would only drive her daughter further away. So she swallowed her dissatisfaction, letting it settle inside.
"Alright, I won't say anything else about it. Did you finish packing? Is Lance coming to get you, or are you meeting him somewhere?"
"Lance told me to have everything ready and wait for him at the entrance to our building," Cindy replied quietly.
"He should be here soon."
Relief washed over Cindy now that her mom was letting it go. "Okay then... I'll wait for him with you."
Sure enough, Lance pulled up just a few minutes later. When he spotted Octavia standing next to Cindy, his brows pulled together in a frown.
"Mom?" He rolled down his window, glancing from one to the other. "What are you doing here?"
Octavia immediately heard the edge in her son's voice. "I came to see Cindy. I heard you're leaving on a business trip and taking her along for a little getaway?"
Lance's gaze shifted. "Yeah, well, it gets lonely for Cindy when everyone else is out of town. My work trip isn't going to be too hectic this time, so I figured she could come along and have a bit of fun."
He added, “I also asked York to come. Even if I get tied up with work, York can keep her company."
Lance's tone was perfectly casual in front of his mother.
Octavia nodded. "If you've all made up your minds, then go."
י
Lance hadn't expected her to give in so easily. “Did you want to come with us?” he asked, though he really didn't mean it.
Octavia felt a little better, even if she knew her son was just being polite. "No, it's fine. I'd only be in the way. You young people should enjoy yourselves.”
She had more important things to deal with anyway. Right now, what mattered most was figuring out who was trying to tear her and Latham's family apart.
"All right then. I'll take Cindy and get going," Lance said, eager to make their exit.
“We promised to meet York soon," he added.
Octavia waved them off. "Go ahead. Have fun."
She paused, then asked, "By the way, how's it going with Mabel? You said this business trip wouldn't be too busy and Cindy will have York.
Why not invite Mabel along too?
Cindy looked confused. "Mabel? Who's that?"
Octavia answered before Lance could say a word. "Mabel is the girl I set Lance up with on a blind date. She's really beautiful, has a great presence about her, and is so gentle and polite I think you'd really like her."
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Cindy smiled, almost amused. "It doesn't really matter if I like her. The important thing is if Lance does."
She wasn't upset about the matchmaking As long as it wasn't Claire, she figured she could get
along with anyone.
Octavia hesitated, watching her son. "Lance, do you want to invite Mabel?"
Lance's patience was running thin. “Mom, I have to work. What would it look like if I just left her by herself the whole time?"
“If she ends up having a bad time, it'd only make things worse for me.”
No matter what Octavia suggested, Lance refused to bring Mabel along. Octavia could only let it go and drop the topic.