27 – Decision

Cody stood in the doorway of the room, leaning against the frame as he watched Olivia sleep. She was curled up next to her grandfather, both of them looking peaceful and content. Cody hated to disturb their rest, but he knew it was probably better if Olivia wasn't there when her grandfather woke up. He had received a call earlier from a doctor he had contacted about her grandfather's condition, and though he had hoped for good news, the outlook was not promising.

Cody had hired Olivia as his personal assistant, but after doing some digging into her background, he had been led to the nursing home where her mother's father resided. He had arranged to pay for his care there and to see if there was anything else that could be done to ensure he received the best care possible. The nurses had put Cody in touch with one of the country's leading Alzheimer's specialists, and after reviewing her grandfather's file, the doctor had called Cody back with the grim prognosis.

Cody had wanted to keep this information from Olivia until he had good news for her, but now he wasn't sure what to do. He felt guilty for not telling her right away, but he also didn't want to burden her with more bad news when she was already struggling to make ends meet. He knew that the nursing home wasn't cheap, and he couldn't imagine that the part-time jobs Olivia had taken on were enough to cover the costs. He suspected that was why she had taken the job as an escort, though the thought made him uneasy. He couldn't help but wonder how many times she had done this before him, and the thought made him feel like a jerk for hiring her to take care of his needs.

As Cody stood there, lost in thought, he was startled by a voice behind him. "Cody?"

He turned to see Jordan, his business partner and close friend, standing in the doorway. "Hey, Jordan. What are you doing here?"

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same thing. You're not exactly known for your early morning visits to the nursing home."

Cody winced. He had forgotten that Jordan had given him the day off to take care of some personal business. "I had some things I needed to take care of," he said evasively.

Jordan seemed to sense that Cody didn't want to talk about it, and he didn't push the issue. Instead, he changed the subject. "How's Olivia's grandfather doing?"

Cody sighed. "Not good. The doctor said the outlook is not good. The best thing Olivia can do is keep him in familiar surroundings, because change can be disruptive to a patient."

Jordan nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Cody. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Cody shook his head. "I don't think so. I just wanted to check in on him and make sure he was getting the care he needed. And I wanted to see Olivia, of course."

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Of course. So, how is everything going with her? Is she settling in okay?"

Cody hesitated. He wasn't sure how much he wanted to share with Jordan about his feelings for Olivia. "She's doing fine," he said finally. "She's a hard worker and very dedicated. I'm glad I hired her."

Jordan nodded. "I'm glad too. She seems like a great addition to the team. And it's good to see you taking an interest in someone other than Rosy for a change."

Cody frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Jordan chuckled. "Come on, Cody. We've been friends for a long time, and I know you have a habit of hiring pretty young women as your assistants. Rosy was a great personal assistant, but let's be real, she was more interested in you than the job. And from what I can see, Olivia is different. She's not just interested in your money or your status. She seems genuinely interested in you as a person."

Cody couldn't deny that Jordan had a point. He had always been drawn to attractive women, but with Olivia, it was different. He was drawn to her intelligence, her determination, and her compassion. He wanted to get to know her better, to understand what made her tick and to help her in any way he could.

"I can't deny that I'm attracted to her," Cody admitted. "But I don't want to mess things up with her. She's going through a lot right now, and the last thing she needs is me complicating things."

Jordan nodded. "I understand. But sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is to be there for them, to listen to them and to support them. And if you're serious about her, you need to be honest with her. Don't hide things from her or try to control her. She's a grown woman and she's capable of making her own decisions. Trust her and respect her, and she'll do the same for you."

Cody sighed. "I know you're right, Jordan. I just wish things were simpler. I feel like I'm constantly walking on eggshells around her, afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. And then there's the issue of her grandfather's care. I want to help her, but I don't want to make things worse by acting like a savior. I don't want her to feel like she owes me anything."

Jordan patted Cody on the back. "I understand. It's not easy, but the best thing you can do is be honest with her and be yourself. And if you really care about her, you'll figure out a way to make things work. You're a smart guy, Cody. You'll find a way to balance your feelings and your responsibilities. And in the end, it will all be worth it."

Cody nodded, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. Jordan was right. He needed to be honest with Olivia and to trust that she would understand. He made up his mind to tell her everything when he saw her later that day.

As Jordan left the room, Cody turned back to Olivia and her grandfather. He knew he had a lot to think about and a lot to do, but for now, he was content to watch them sleep and to dream of a future where they could all be happy together.

Cody pushes away from the door and walks over to Olivia, who is still asleep on the bed with her grandfather. He approaches her quietly and gently brushes her cheek with the back of his hand. When her eyes open, she smiles up at him, then she blinks a few times in confusion as she wakes up.