A tall, handsome man enters the doorway. He smiles at the two women sitting on the bed. There was no denying the resemblance. They had the same eyes, the same smile, and even the same laugh.
"Nora?"
She looks up at him, remembering the feelings that she had once had for him, "Yes Daniel?"
"Can we talk downstairs?"
"Sure," she nods.
She leaves the room, and follows him down the stairs into the living room. He offers her a seat on the couch.
"I don't know what to do with her," he admits, "I don't know how to handle her anymore. She's an adult and..."
"She needs her mother."
"I know."
"I should have been here for her all along."
"We both know that wasn't possible. We both know that we did what was best for her."
"No we didn't. I acted selfishly."
"You didn't. You were thinking about your five other children. You didn't want to drag them through hell."
"They were all nearly grown."
"So what should I do?"
"You've done everything you could possibly do. I think that I should take it from here."
"What do you propose?"
"I want her to come back with me."
"Are you sure about that?"
"She's my daughter. I should have protected her... I have to..."
"Have to what?"
"I have to fix this."
"What is everyone else going to say?"
"I really don't give a damn. I never should have hidden this in the first place. I should have told William to go to hell."
"And let your marriage, and your whole life shatter?"
"She's my child. I should sacrifice everything for her, and I haven't done a damn thing for her."
"You would have had nothing."
"I would have had her."
"Your other kids wouldn't have understood."
"They would have gotten over it."
"You think that they're going to get over it now?"
"I don't know, I guess they'll have to."
"Do you really want to do this?"
"She's coming home with me, and that's final."
"Why now?"
"It's nineteen years overdue."
"It's not my decision."
"I know," she gets off the couch she turns to head for the stairs.
"Oh, Nora."
"Yeah?" she turns and looks at him at the bottom of the staircase.
"She doesn't like being called Olivia. She's been going by Liv since she was three."
"Oh," she nods. She turns, and starts up the stairs. She doesn't hesitate at the landing this time. She simply moves to the first door on the left. She steps into the room, and finds Olivia right where she left her.
"Liv?" she begins as she stands at the foot of the bed.
"Yeah?" the teenager looks up.
"Why don't you come home with me?"
"You want me to come with you?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Ok," she agrees.
It's after four o'clock in the evening when Nora arrives home. Nora shows Olivia to a room. Olivia stands in the doorway.
"I'm going to take a nap if you don't mind."
"Mind? I was going to ask you to take one so I wouldn't feel bad."
Olivia smiles.
"I'll see you when you wake up then," Olivia replies.
Nora goes into her room, and slips under the covers. Within ten minutes she's fast asleep. An hour later she feels her bed vibrating. She opens her eyes and sees her phone lying next to her. She picks up the phone, and pulls it to her ear.
"Hello?" she answers sheepishly.
"Mom where have you been? I've been calling you all day," Sarah questions.
"Sorry. My phone died, and I didn't have charger."
"I've been calling since eight o'clock this morning."
"Is something wrong?"
"No. I'm just used to talking to you every day."
"Oh."
"You sound funny. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, just a little tired."
"Where have you been all day?"
"I don't want to bore you of the details of my day."
"You should call Kevin, and Justin, and Kitty, they've been worried about you too. It's not like you not to answer your phone."
"I've been busy. I spent half of my day in the air," she lets slip.
"In the air? What are you talking about? Where are you?"
"I'm at home, in bed."
"Where did you go?"
"Sarah just call your brothers and your sister and tell them that I'm fine."
"I think I should come over."
"No Sarah now is not a good time."
"Why not?"
"It's just not."
"Mom..."
"Sarah please just call Justin, and Kitty, and Kevin. Tell them I'm fine."
"Whatever," Sarah hangs up.
Nora hangs up, and takes a look at her phone. It tells her that she has 46 missed calls. "They're ridiculous. It's like I'm under house arrest," she comments to herself.
She gets out of bed, and wanders down the hall. She pushes the door of the bedroom open, and tiptoes in. She finds Olivia dead asleep on top of the covers. She pulls the duvet folded at the bottom over her. Olivia doesn't move. She continues to lie on her side with her eyes closed.
"It's creepy for you to stand over me and watch me," Olivia comments without opening her eyes.
"I didn't know you were awake, sorry."
"I'm a very light sleeper."
"I'll just go downstairs then."
"You don't have to go downstairs, just don't stand over top of me while I'm trying to sleep."
"Are you hungry? You haven't eaten since breakfast. Can I make you something?"
"I guess," she agrees.
"What's your favorite meal?"
"You don't have to make me anything. I can do for myself."
"I want to. What's your favorite?"
"I don't really have a favorite."
"What are you in the mood for?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm a picky eater and..."
"Just tell me and I'll make it!"
"I kind of just want some Macaroni and cheese."
"What kind?"
"Kraft," Olivia answers with a puzzled look.
