Rogue of Taurus

Livia turned the key in the ignition and started her long drive home. The weather was the best it was going to get this time of year. She did drive past the remnants of an accident from hours before. She took a deep breath and drove more carefully than she would usually have, keeping Corvin's warnings in mind. He did know these roads better than her.

Relieved to arrive at the rest stop, Livia purchased a soda from a vending machine and used the bathroom. She sat on a bench and ate the peanut butter and honey sandwich she’d packed for lunch. She took out her phone and texted Corvin.

Livia: Made it halfway. Eating Lunch.

Corvin: Any problems?

Livia hesitated and didn’t mention the accident she’d passed. Nope.

Corvin: Excellent. You’re close enough to Caesarea now that Justin could send some TARP personnel out to help if you run into trouble. I’ll let him know you’re about two hours out.

Livia: Corvin that’s overkill.

Corvin: Phone reception is nonexistent starting about a half-hour after you leave the rest stop until you’re 10 miles out of Caesarea

Livia didn’t like how nervous that made her. She was also offended that this is how Corvin saw her, as someone who couldn’t do things on her own without him interfering. She wasn’t weak or incompetent.

Livia: Stop it! Stop worrying about me!

Livia turned the phone off before he could answer. It wasn’t going to work most of the way anyway. She hopped into her car and told herself that Justin knew she was coming. There was no reason to be anxious, but she resented that an ordinary drive now had turned frightening to her.

Livia pulled up to Hyrum's house two and a half hours later. Thirty minutes later than usual, due to being more careful than normal. She turned on her phone.

Corvin had texted a few times.

Corvin: It’s my job to worry about you. Who else is here to do it?

Corvin: Liv, you mad at me?

Corvin: Fine. Be mad. Let me know when you arrive home.

She also had a text from Justin. Send me a text when you get in, Livia.

She called Justin. He picked up immediately. “I’m fine!” she yelled at him.

“Where are you?” he asked.

“I’m in front of Hyrum's house,” she growled. “I’m fine.”

“Alright, call Corvin and let him hear your voice. He’s worried.”

“I don’t want to call him. He’s been a pain for the last two days.”

“Livia, please, be patient with him over this.”

“Also,” Livia challenged. “Did I see TARP people trailing me?”

“December through March TARP agents patrol that highway daily, Livia. Everyone in Caesarea knows that it’s a precarious and isolated stretch of road. I’m proud of Corvin for restraining himself. In the past, he would have dropped everything and driven you there and then back on the same day to finish his finals.”

“What?” Livia sputtered, flabbergasted.

“Livia, I’m proud of you for showing him that you value your independence, but please show him the same compassion that you’d want when facing your fears.”

Livia swallowed hard, feeling like she was being scolded. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Justin asked firmly, obviously a tad impatient with her.

“Okay,” Livia repeated. She’d gotten this decision wrong somehow. Shame warmed her cheeks.

“Now, I’m here if you need anything else. Please, don’t hesitate to call.”

“Thanks, Justin,” Livia said.

Livia took a deep breath and called Corvin.

“Liv?” he sounded panicked.

“Corvin?” Livia wasn’t sure what to say to him. She felt guilty but didn’t understand what she’d done. She’d tried so hard the last several years to subdue her temper and process her traumas so she didn’t overreact to the slightest trigger. She’d felt so confident that she was doing the right thing by taking care of herself and driving out here alone. Now…well…she was discouraged that after so much work she could get something so basic, so wrong.

“Liv, where are you?” he asked.

“I’m at Hyrum's house.”

“Is everything alright? You sound upset.”

“I wasn’t trying to be mean to you, Corvin,” she said.

“What are you talking about?” Corvin asked.

“I don’t know,” Livia admitted. “I don’t know what I did wrong. Justin seemed mad at me and said I wasn’t understanding enough.” Livia hated how weak her voice sounded. She pressed a fist to her forehead, feeling like a screw-up.

“What did you say to Justin?” Corvin asked.

“That you were annoying about me driving out here and that I thought I saw TARP people trailing me.”

“They were probably on patrol,” Corvin said.

“That’s what he said and that I needed to be more compassionate—” Livia let the confusion seep into her voice.

“Livia, Hun, my fiancee was murdered walking home with my sister one night after a festival—” Corvin said.

Livia gasped. “It wasn’t an accident?”

“No. It was a brutal attack.”

“What happened to your sister?”

“Epiphany spent some time in the hospital, and it was an extremely rough emotional recovery.”

“Corvin, I didn’t know any of that—” Livia said, horrified. She noted he chose not to describe Epiphany’s injuries, and a knot formed in her stomach. “I’m so sorry.”

“I wish I hadn’t felt terrified to let you make that drive, but I’ve patrolled that stretch of highway in the winter. I’ve helped rescue crews pull people out of wrecks. Not all of them still alive—”

“Oh.” All the breath left Livia’s lungs. Had she been too impatient? Had she made a mistake? It was possible. However, many things, experiences that affected Corvin before she came along, weren’t her fault. She understood what Justin meant now about being proud of Corvin. In context, Corvin had shown a tremendous amount of restraint.

“Corvin, I’m safe. I’m okay,” Livia said.

“I’m so glad you’re safe. Have you seen Hyrum and Caecilia yet?”

“No. I called Justin the second I got here and then called you.”

“Well, get some rest, and if you’re in the mood, call and give me an update about the family after you’ve spent some time with them.”

Corvin's voice was light and friendly, but Livia could still hear the strain in it. It probably hadn’t been easy to tell her those things. It would be good to let him decompress from the last several hours.

“Thanks, Corvin,” Livia kept her tone light and friendly, too. “Talk to you later.”

Livia heaved a sigh and ended the call. She didn’t get out of her car immediately. She evaluated the situation. What was she supposed to have done? Was there any use in asking that question at this point? She made the decision. There wasn’t any way to change it now. She could only consider how she would decide differently in the future.

Livia got out of the car and trudged up to the house. She knocked and then tried to walk in. The door didn’t open. She knocked again. Rang the doorbell. There was no answer. Livia was locked out of the house. She had forgotten to tell Hyrum she was coming. She assumed they’d be here when she arrived.

Embarrassed, Livia took a deep breath and tried to figure out the best next step. She called Caecilia and didn’t get an answer. She tried Hyrum and got a similar result. Livia had a couple of options. She could hang around the forum for a couple of hours, ask Justin for help, or she could show up at Hyrum's work and volunteer to help somehow.

She didn’t want to go to the forum. Crowded with people, walking the forum was always asking for gossip. Justin already scolded her today. She didn’t want to repeat the experience. She’d come home early to help Hyrum, so why not get started right away?