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juicyflawless25 · 11 months

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Capillaries Are Bursting (Ch.3)

Notes; No trigger warnings this go around, maybe? I tried for something a little light-hearted for this chapter, but I feel it's a mess. I hope you enjoy it anyway! All mistakes are mine!

Ch.1, Ch.2

Rays of the morning sun lapped at the edges of the bed Larissa was sleeping in, highlighting the one leg hanging out from under the covers. Her alabaster skin glowed against the natural light clinging to it, highlighting the muscles of her calf. Her foot lightly twitched as her sleeping form shifted ever so slightly underneath the fluffy covers of the bed. Blue irises rolled slightly underneath fluttering eyelids, a clear indication that Larissa’s body had chosen to wake her up.

After a long moment of deciding whether she wanted to greet the day or not, a slight huff was elicited from the blonde’s lips as she finally opened her eyes. She immediately looked over to Roger’s side of the bed, turning her head to stare directly at the empty spot that greeted her. A relieved sigh escaped her as she found herself alone in her bed, a blessing in disguise.

It was rare to find her husband in the bed when she arose from slumber, and no complaints were to be found from Larissa on the matter. Any time she did find him there, it was sure to be a morning from hell. He never had a kind word to say anymore, so when he was there, she was immediately bombarded with complaints from Roger. Even now, as she lay in the middle of the bed, she could hear his words of discouragement in her head.

“Someone of your age should never be caught sleeping in this late.”

“You look utterly terrifying waking up like that.”

“Why don’t you finally get your ass out of bed and do something for once.”

“I can��t believe I have to wake up next to you every morning. I must have been mad wanting to marry you.”

His emotional abuse was neverending. Belittling word after belittling word was slung at Larissa at speeds with which she could not keep up. They had built her up once, his words. But it had become very clear, years ago, that his words before they were married had been lies. Lies he had put in her head and made her believe she was worth marrying. So much had changed since their first meeting, so many nights crying herself to sleep and wishing for death. Or even just disappearing would have been fine for her. She’d lost count of how many times she had wished for a hole to open up and swallow her.

But alas, life never worked in such a way. Instead, Larissa had to stay and endure the abuse. She had to do as she was told, forever being used as one thing or another for whatever Roger pleased. The likes of which Larissa had gone through in her life were not something she would even wish upon her worst enemy. Coincidentally, her husband had quickly become her worst enemy. Though the things she wished on him had become increasingly more violent as the years dragged on. She was slightly ashamed of these thoughts, but never would she voice them to anyone. And she wasn’t capable of following through…right?

With a heavy sigh, Larissa rose in her bed, wiping at her tired eyes and pulling back her fingers covered in old mascara. She pursed her lips as she stared at her fingers, chastising herself mentally for having not remembered to take her makeup off before bed. Larissa looked at her pillow, breathing a sigh of relief that no mascara had gotten on the silk material. Roger would practically have her head over something such as that.

Groaning ever so slightly at the twinge in her back as she moved, Larissa lifted herself away from the bed and slipped her feet into her slippers. Long arms stretched endlessly as Larissa tried to right whatever ailment was hurting her back, joints popping like firecrackers bursting in the sky. She grabbed for her robe nearby, slipping into it and reveling in the feeling of the soft material on her skin. It was like an old friend hugging her, comforting her as it surrounded her.

Not that Larissa necessarily had old friends hugging her. In fact, aside from her daughter, she couldn’t remember the last time someone had genuinely hugged her. That thought alone shot a small pang in her heart as she fumbled her way to the bathroom, reluctantly starting her day. She contemplated glumly, wondering how her life had taken such a sour turn. Why was she the one suffering and not Roger? Who had given him the right to treat her so badly? So many questions Larissa had, but ultimately no answers could be given.

Moments after taking her shower, Larissa sat in front of her vanity, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She focused on her mouth first, watching it as the frown lines were etched into her skin. She wished they were lines from laughing, from enjoying herself in life. It was often she had to put on a fake smile for others, but that disappeared as soon as the event was over. It was never there long enough to make an impact on her skin.

Long, damp blonde hair fell in haphazard pieces down Larissa’s shoulders, looking messy and unkempt. Her eyes followed the slithering paths of her hair, mesmerized for a moment at the way it looked plastered to her skin. It was this image that brought forth the thought of wishing to be some sea creature. Perhaps her life would be much more satisfying if she could become someone like Ursula, from The Little Mermaid. Flaunting around and making deals with people to create her own path for something. Not bound by some man, even if she was banished. Perhaps that would be better than the hell she was living in.

As her mind began to wander, her brain riddled with anxiety over her life, a knock at her door startled her back into reality. Larissa jumped and looked down at her naked body, panicking as she looked around the room for her robe.

“Just a moment!” She called out, scrambling to put her robe on.

It twisted around her body for a moment as she struggled with it, looking like some sort of cartoon character in a frenzy. She managed to right it on her body correctly, glaring down at the offending fabric in question. Tying the slips together tightly and putting her slippers back on her feet, she wondered who could possibly be at her door. If it was Roger, he would have just burst in, probably ready with comments about Larissa’s body and how uncouth it was to be sitting there naked.

But those were thoughts for another time as she approached the door. She reached for the handle and gently opened the door, peaking through the crack for a moment to catch a glimpse of whoever had come to speak to her.

Surprise, and a slight tinge of a blush at being caught so unpresentable, colored Larissa’s features as she eyed Deirdre standing at her door.

Deirdre had a look of apology written on her face, but she didn’t seem to be too sorry about the sight she was seeing. Larissa tried to ignore that as she opened the door a little wider, giving the other woman a tentative smile.

“Deirdre, what can I help you with?” The blonde questioned, feeling self-conscious under the almost wandering eyes of the nanny.

Blinking herself out of a stupor, Deirdre finally placed her eyes in line with Larissa’s. She gave a small, but gentle smile to the woman in front of her, trying her best to not make Larissa feel entirely uncomfortable. Though it seemed perhaps she had already done so.

“My apologies.” DD began, clearing her throat and giving her best ‘I’m sorry’ smile. “I just felt like I needed to come and check on you this morning.” The nanny stated. Her insides felt fluttered with having to broach any subjects possibly deemed unprofessional, but her exterior showed no signs of nervousness.

For all her effort not to, Larissa still looked shocked for a moment. Even more so than when she had seen DD standing in her doorway. No one ever asked her how she was. No one ever cared enough to even notice if she was out of sorts in any way. Not that she really let anyone see that. She would always plaster a smile on her face and let everyone think she was just fine. But DD has seen what had happened the night before and knew how cruel of a man Roger could be. That didn’t lessen the surprise of her asking how she was for Larissa.

It took her a moment to answer, a deer in the headlights look stuck on her face before she schooled it back to something less horrifying. “That’s very kind of you, Deir…” Larissa stopped, correcting herself with the nanny’s name. “DD. It’s very kind of you, DD. But you have nothing to worry about.” She gave a smile that she had perfected throughout the years, the one that actually looked genuine and truthful. But the look on Deirdre’s face told Larissa she didn’t buy it.

DD lifted an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest, one leg bending at the knee as she jutted her hip out to the side. Skeptical would be the word to best describe the look she was giving Larissa, letting the silence linger for a moment to get the point across.

“Larissa.” DD started, not dropping her intense stare for even a moment. “You can fool everyone else you know into thinking everything is a piece o’ cake, but I know better. Have you already forgotten the spectacle I witnessed last night?” She questioned, her one eyebrow raising even higher than before.

Larissa had to ignore the feeling that wanted to crawl up at hearing Deirdre say her name, pushing anything even remotely unnecessary aside to focus on the other woman’s words. She had the decency to look sheepish at the mention of the night before, if only because she wished to forget someone had witnessed such a thing. It was embarrassing, to say the least.

“No, no I haven’t forgotten.” Larissa answered solemnly, shaking her head as she answered. She wrapped her robe around her tighter, wanting to squeeze away the shame she felt in her chest, as it slowly started to creep out into the rest of her body.

Deirdre’s eyes widened in sudden mortification as she watched the humiliation play out on Larissa’s face. Without thinking, her hands reached out and gingerly touched the blonde’s arm, trying to pull her out of whatever thoughts she seemed to be having. Her thumb lightly brushed against the skin of Larissa’s arm in comfort, the action taking place without DD even realizing it.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay. It’s alright.” DD hushed in a soft tone, softer than her normal if she was being honest. But this was a delicate situation and she wanted to be as helpful as possible. “Listen, the one who should be embarrassed is that asshole husband of yours.” Her tone became a little more vehement at the end of her sentence, rougher than she had intended. But if there was one thing Deirdre hated, it was men like Roger Weems.

Larissa’s eyes shot up from their place on the floor, widening slightly before a bit of a laugh escaped her. It was unbidden, completely involuntary. But the way DD had so violently called Roger an asshole struck the funny bone in her.

The nanny couldn’t help but grin when Larissa started laughing, her hands still laying on her arm in comfort as her body shook with her own bit of laughter. “If I had known that calling Mr. Weems an asshole was going to bring a smile to your face, I would have led with that.” DD boasted, sporting a lopsided grin that had Larissa’s head slightly spinning from the beauty of it.

Relaxing her body slightly, the blonde nodded and placed her own hand on DD’s opposite arm. “Trust me when I say that such a thing will always bring a smile to my face.” Larissa provided, patting DD’s arm with a grin stretching her unpainted lips.

Deirdre chuckled, but only nodded her head for a moment. She realized then, however, that her hands were still on Larissa’s arms. She carefully removed them and let them fall by her side. That felt awkward after a second though and she shoved her hands in her pocket and leaned against the door frame with a grin.

“Getting you to feel better took much less effort than expected.” She provided, giving Larissa an almost shit-eating grin.

Larissa rolled her eyes and shook her head, finding this conversation with Deirdre much easier than she had anticipated. She had an actual, genuine, honest to god smile on her face as she stood in front of the other woman, feeling a lightness in her chest she hadn’t felt in years. She was on the verge of saying something when DD beat her to it.

“So listen, I did want to come to check on you. You very much seem like you need a pick-me-up.” Deirdre said this delicately, with as soft a look as she could muster. She meant it as nicely as possible, wanting desperately to do something for this woman who seemed to be going through so much.

“Olivia has so graciously demanded that we go to the zoo today.” Deirdre said with sarcasm, making Larissa grin wider. “I think it would be in her best interest, and yours, if you came with us. I’ll even buy the food.” DD tilted her head, eyebrows rising up her forehead in a ‘how could you possibly turn this down’ look.

If there was anything Larissa was weak against, it was her daughter. She was the one thing in her life that had brought her endless joy and comfort. Of course, she had been terrified when she found out she was pregnant. Larissa hadn’t even been 100% sure she wanted children, but Roger had insisted so. It had taken some time for it to happen, Larissa being in her thirties by the time anything had taken. It was an experience she never wanted to experience again.

Now, though? She didn’t regret it at all. The only thing she did regret was the fact that Roger was the father. Olivia had his eyes, always peering at her with a tiny little smile on her face. It hurt her to look at those eyes at times, but there was still nothing she wouldn’t do for her daughter.

Taking herself out of her own head and downward spiraling thoughts, Larissa focused back in on Deirdre and realized the woman was staring straight at her, head tilted in question as she waited for an answer.

“I’m so sorry for spacing out on you there.” Larissa apologized, giving an apologetic smile with it. She blushed lightly, shaking her head as if to shake the thoughts away. “But I think that sounds lovely!” The blonde grinned, clapping her hands together in a light show of excitement.

DD finally nodded and moved back from the doorway, internally berating herself for having stood so close to Larissa. She hadn’t even noticed she had started leaning in while they were talking, while she waited for Larissa’s internal monologue to finish. She plastered a grin on her face and held a thumbs up in approval. “Perfect! You get yourself ready and we’ll be down in my car waiting for you!”

The nanny turned to leave, but before she could take even a step, Larissa’s hand was on her shoulder to stop her. DD froze before turning around slowly, peering up at Larissa with a question in her eyes.

“Thank you, DD. For…for being so kind to me. It means more than you’ll ever know.” Larissa confessed, squeezing the other woman's shoulder in thanks.

Deirdre felt her heart thump and her stomach flutter at the words, though she tried hard not to look into why, and smiled wide at Larissa. She patted the blonde’s hand before squeezing it back in return. “You don’t have to thank me, love. Just get your gorgeous self ready and come have a nice time with me and your daughter.” DD winked before finally walking away, putting just the tiniest bit of swing in her hips. For what reason? Well, that remained to be seen.

Half an hour later, which was a true feat for Larissa, she came strolling down the stairs looking like a million bucks. Her mood had changed entirely from this morning, a soft smile gracing her lips and her head held a little higher than usual. Her red lipstick made her lips look plump, lashes were adorned with mascara to make her blue eyes pop. A beige mock-turtleneck sweater dress laid perfectly on her body, accentuating her shapely hips. Did she have beige heels on to match? Of course.

Larissa swiped at invisible wrinkles at the bottom of her dress, making sure she was presentable as she looked into the mirror that was placed on the wall next to the front door. She checked her lipstick once more after having done so many times while at her vanity, to make sure there were no smudges or anything out of order. If she was going out in public, she was going to look as good as possible.

As she checked herself over again, clothes and all, the front door opened and DD popped her head in. The nanny’s eyes roved from Larissa’s head, pausing slightly on her lips, and moved down, down, down. Larissa felt her cheeks heat up at the attention, Deirdre letting out a sharp, approving whistle.

“You look fantastic!” The nanny approved, nodding her head. “But I did say we were going to the zoo, right? And you’re wearing heels?” DD had to question it, even if Larissa looked like the cover of a fashion magazine.

Taking a moment to look down at her heels, twisting one leg and foot to the side to show off the whole thing, Larissa hummed and shrugged her shoulders. “I enjoy this outfit.” Was all she offered, looking up at DD with a defiant look in her eye. She was not about to change.

Deirdre threw her hands up and leaned against the door. “Hey, you wear whatever you’re comfortable in, love. I’m not judging, because you look radiant, but I wanna make sure you’re gonna be comfortable.” The nanny was more of a practical dresser, always looking for comfort over style. It came with her job, honestly, but she added her own personal style to it. “Anyway, Olivia is bouncing uncontrollably in my car, so if you don’t get the led out we’re gonna have a raging child on our hands.”

Larissa had to laugh at the statement. It was said in such a gruff way, DD’s words lilting in certain ways that made her feel like a good teasing rather than being berated. She gave a curt nod before grabbing her small purse, placing the strap on her should as she looked DD in the eyes. “Off we go.” She said, moving past Deirdre with her catwalk steps, giving a little side grin to the woman as she passed her by.

Another half an hour later and the three of them stood at the entrance of the zoo, Deirdre paying for the tickets as Larissa occupied her daughter. She was bent all the way down, trying her best to be at her daughter’s level. Olivia held both of her mother’s hands in hers, insisting she twirl her around and around and around. Larissa grinned wide, happy to be playing with her daughter, all thoughts of Roger gone for the moment. Olivia giggled as her mother took one hand and turned her counter-clockwise, spinning the little girl in circles as precious laughter fell from both of their lips.

Deirdre watched them for a moment, eying them both with wonder. The relationship the two had as mother and daughter was a sight to behold, the little one always bringing out a side of Larissa that DD was sure no one else had ever seen. The blonde was a wonderful mother, always doting on her daughter in ways the nanny had wished she’d had as a child. But that was another thought for another day as she finally approached them, smiling as Olivia caught a glimpse of her and began to jump up and down.

“Ready?” The little girl asked, making grabby hands at DD as the older women came up to her. A high-pitched giggle flowed from the little girl’s mouth as DD swooped her up into a hug before settling her on her hip, arms wrapped around Olivia’s waist.

“Yes, little wild one! We’re ready!” She responded, attacking Olivia’s face with little kisses.

The little one cackled and wiggled in DD’s arms before turning her attention back to her mother. Larissa was back at her full height, watching the two of them with rapt attention. She actually felt relaxed for a moment, wishing she had the carefree attitude her daughter did.

“Mommy! Let’s go!” Olivia waved her arms frantically around, nearly hitting Deirdre in the face.

Larissa couldn’t help the slight snicker that escaped her at the sight of it all, stepping up to kiss her daughter on the cheek. Her eyes locked with DDs for a moment, a small pang of something she couldn’t quite place hitting her heart. She ignored it and took a step back. “Lead the way!” She waved her arm towards the entrance and followed behind DD and Olivia.

An hour into their zoo adventure, Larissa could feel that wearing heels was indeed a mistake. In all honesty, she was surprised she made it an hour before things started to bother her. The weather was cold enough for her dress not to be a bother, but the heels were about to be her undoing. When they would stop to observe an animal Olivia was interested in, Larissa would switch her weight back and forth between her feet, trying to find a comfortable way to stand as her daughter ‘ooo-ed’ and ‘ahhh-ed’ at the animals.

Deirdre, of course, noticed Larissa was slowing down. She kept an eye on the other woman, watching as her face became more and more pinched, giving away the fact that the blonde’s shoes were bothering her. DD wanted to be smug for having already inquired about it beforehand, but she kept that feeling to herself as sympathy began to take over.

After Olivia had gotten her fill of gazing at the chimpanzees, Deirdre took one look at Larissa before bending down to whisper to the little girl. “Listen, it looks like your mommy is feeling a bit tired. Why don’t we take a break to sit down and have some food, hmm?” DD questioned Olivia, giving a gentle smile as she held the little girl’s hand.

Olivia nodded enthusiastically, clapping her hands together as she always did when she was excited. She turned to her mother, completely ignoring the fact that Larissa looked like she was in severe pain at the moment. “Mommy! Mommy! I’m hungry!” She exclaimed as she ran over to her mother, holding her arms out to indicate she wanted to be picked up.

Larissa smiled at her daughter, ignoring her aching feet as she scooped her up into her arms. She held her with one arm against her side and tickled at the little girl’s stomach with the other, making Olivia burst into laughter. It was a sound Larissa so desperately loved, feeding off of the joy her daughter so easily displayed.

“Well then, let us find something!” Larissa responded, looking over to DD with a questioning look.

DD tilted her head towards the direction they had already been heading, moving to walk in stride with Larissa as she slowly made herself move forward. “There’s a little place just up ahead where little miss Olivia here loves to eat. It’s not far, and then you can sit and rest those fancy feet of yours.” Deirdre teased, looking up at Larissa with a dastardly grin.

The blonde rolled her eyes, still holding her daughter tightly as the girl excitedly bounced in her arms. She didn’t want to concede that her feet felt like they were going to fall off, especially as DD gave her a knowing look. She chose not to respond with words, only nodding her head as she let her daughter down to walk herself. If she carried her anymore, she felt her feet would break off at the ankles.

When they entered the little food shop, Deirdre pointed towards a booth in the corner before looking at Larissa. “You go ahead and sit down, rest your feet. I’ll order the food and be right there.” She instructed lightly, though the stern look on her face gave no room for argument from Larissa.

The blonde gave a stern look back, in good teasing, and turned to grab her daughter’s hand. She led Olivia to the table, sitting with her on one side of the booth and soothingly playing with her hair. Larissa’s feet were screaming at her and she longed to push the shoes off her feet, but she endured as she focused on her daughter. If there was anything in this world that could soothe her, it was Olivia.

Lost in her own world with Olivia, Larissa didn’t even notice when Deirdre approached the table. When the other woman set the food down on the tabletop, Larissa jumped and her head immediately swiveled to see who had startled her. The panic on her face slowly disappeared when she realized it was Deirdre. She took in a deep breath, trying to calm her heart rate. Olivia, for the most part, just ignored whatever was happening and started reaching for the food.

Deirdre slid into the booth across from the two and settled in, letting Olivia take the food she always got when they came here. She slowly looked at Larissa, eyes full of concern for a moment. “I didn’t mean to scare you, love. Are you alright?” The nanny asked, watching Larissa’s eyes to see the emotions there.

“Knee-jerk reaction.” Larissa explained, looking somewhat sheepish over it. It wasn’t the best explanation and she could tell that DD knew why it was such a reaction. She tried to give her best smile, not wanting to bring up too much in front of Olivia.

Deirdre got the sense of that and decided not to push anything. Instead, she nodded once and gave her best reassuring smile. “Eat up then, you look famished.” DD winked and waved her hand at the food.

Larissa stared at Deirdre for a minute, studying her face. She lingered on the other woman’s lips perhaps a bit longer than she meant to, cheeks turning a bit red at being caught doing so. DD had a small side grin lifting up the left side of her mouth, but she chose not to say anything for the time being. Instead, as Larissa grabbed one of the burgers offered to her, Deirdre slid her a drink slyly. She winked once more at Larissa before turning her attention to Olivia.

“Are you happy, little wild one?” Deidre asked, grinning at the girl.

With a fry in one hand and her drink in the other, Olivia nodded her head enthusiastically. “Yeth!” She answered, mouth still full of food.

DD chuckled, shaking her head lovingly at the small one. She was endearing, that was for certain. And as she looked at Larissa from the side of her eyes, the blonde munching on the burger as it rolled on one side of her mouth, as she smiled at her daughter, DD could understand exactly who she had gotten that from. It certainly wasn’t Roger.

All was silent for them for a bit as they enjoyed their food, Deidre and Larissa sometimes accidentally brushing their fingers as they reached for their drinks at the same time. And it was always the same reaction, DD looked apologetic while Larissa looked shocked but somewhat heartened by it.

Towards the end of their meal, a stranger stopped by their table, grinning down at all three of them. She was an alternative looking lady, piercings covering parts of her face, her hair a lovely shade of purple. Larissa and DD looked up at her, Olivia oblivious as she finished off her fries and drink.

“I’m so sorry to bother you all.” The woman began, pressing her hand to her chest in apology. “But I just wanted to say that I think you all make the cutest little family. A little girl and her two moms? It makes my heart happy to see more of this these days.” She smiled genuinely at them before taking a breath and nodding. “Again, I’m sorry for bothering you. I just needed to say that. Have a great day!”

And off the woman went, leaving behind two grown women with their mouths open, unsure of what to say. Deirdre’s eyes cut to Larissa first, trying to gauge the other woman’s reaction. She could see the wheels turning in Larissa’s mind as she watched those blue eyes ponder what the woman had said. DD hadn’t had the heart to correct the stranger, only slightly managing to get out a thank you before she had left, almost sounding more like a question than a statement.

Larissa finally cleared her throat and finished off her drink, mind still reeling from the compliment they had just received. What she wasn’t revealing was how she wished it was true. How she wished for something much happier than what her life had given her. She could feel something, some sort of connection, between herself and Deirdre. She had felt it for some time now, but she hadn’t even tried to entertain the idea. She was married, after all. Albeit, it was not a happy marriage. But having someone in public hand her such a scenario, and in such an innocent way, made Larissa’s heart break and melt at the same time.

“Well, darling!” Larissa began, pointedly using the term of endearment with DD, trying to tamp down her racing heart. “Shall we take our child home?” There was a slight laugh that bubbled up with Larissa’s words, a happy little feeling fluttering in her chest with them.

Deirdre laughed, shaking her head at the other woman. “Sure, babe!” She shot back, heart pumping a bit faster, not knowing it was keeping in time with Larissa’s. “Let’s get you home and out of those heels.” DD threw a wink at the blonde again, really enjoying the way her cheeks turned red and her eyelashes fluttered in response.

It was a possibly dangerous game they were playing, but neither one wanted to confront it. Not yet.

Deidre, Larissa, and Olivia strolled into the mansion a few hours later, the two women laughing between themselves as the little girl was carried in. She was all tuckered out from her day, passed out in Deidre’s arms. The adults were talking amongst themselves, still enjoying the time together as they walked through the threshold of the home.

A clearing of a throat surprised them both into silence, their eyes wandering around to find the source of the sound. Larissa’s heart dropped at the sight of Roger at the top of the stairs. DD, try as she might to not do so, glared up at the man with so much disdain on her face that if looks could kill, Roger would drop dead right there. Little did they know they each wished for that exact thing. Alas, life was a cruel mistress, leaving them both in a situation they didn’t care for.

“You’re late, Larissa. Did you forget we had a function to attend this evening?” He questioned sternly as he pointedly ignored Deirdre and shot daggers at Larissa.

Larissa could tell Roger was livid, the clench of his fists and the hate in his eyes making that very clear. She looked to DD once, giving an apology with her eyes before looking back to Roger. She opened her mouth to speak, to respond in the meek manner in which she knew Roger would prefer. But Deidre was having none of it. Watching Larissa turn into a shrinking violet in front of her eyes, instead of the radiant woman she had seen all day, made a fire bubble inside of the nanny that she knew would take eons to douse.

“That’s my fault, sir.” She practically sneered the last word, wishing she could call him something else instead. “I drug her to the zoo with us, so mother and daughter could have some quality time.”

Roger scoffed, taking a few steps down the stairs as he barely kept his temper under control. “I don’t want to hear excuses. I just want to see my wife ready to go when I tell her to be.” His attention turned back to Larissa, giving her a pointed glare and making her shrink even more. “Don’t bother to change, Larissa. Let’s go.”

He rushed past the two of them, nearly knocking both women over. Deirdre had to hang on to Olivia, making sure she didn’t slip from her grasp as the other hand reached for Larissa. She steadied the woman the best she could and watched the blonde’s face with sympathetic eyes. With a squeeze of Larissa’s shoulder, Deidre smiled and gave Larissa a once-over. Did she linger a little too long on the blonde’s lips? Maybe. But those were thoughts for later.

“You look beautiful. Knock ‘em dead.” DD complimented, giving that infamous wink she had probably used one too many times today. The resulting smile she received from Larissa was worth it though.

“Thank you.” Larissa whispered, just before kissing Olivia on the head softly. She gave one more smile to the nanny before turning and disappearing out the door.

#larissa weems #larissa weems x original female character #capillaries are bursting

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