Desperation
(Chapter Seven: Road Trip)
Olivia looked into the rearview mirror to see the two girls in the back seat. Maureen held a story book in her hands and read one about a princess as McKenna playfully kicked her feet back and fourth. It was a long car trip and Olivia would have loved nothing more than to have left and never looked back, but the F.B.I. was waiting back in Galveston to talk to Olivia.
"You okay?" Elliot asked looking over at her from the driver's seat.
"I'll be alright. Guess I'm just a little nervous to be going back."
"Hey, we meet with these F.B.I. guys and answer their questions, go by your house and get your things, pick up your car from impound and we're headed back by tomorrow afternoon."
"Yeah, I'm just not so sure this is good on McKenna. To go back, I mean. but I couldn't exactly leave her either."
"It will be fine. I'll get us checked into a hotel with a pool. That's why I brought Maureen along. She can occupy McKenna while we go back to the house. She doesn't have to go back there, ever."
"Okay," Olivia whispered as tears rose in her eyes. She exhaled softly and stared out the window. "Did you tell her?" Olivia asked looking at the reflection of the girls in the rearview mirror.
"This morning. I thought she should know McKenna was her sister."
"Half sister, Elliot."
"That doesn't matter. She isn't my half child and she will never be half loved. She is my daughter, just the same as Maureen. They are sisters."
Olivia nodded her head. "And she is okay with it?"
"Liv, Kathy and I were in one of our on again off again episodes. That night we spent together she and I were off again. Maureen understands that. And none of it matters anymore. The important thing is that you and I share an amazing little girl together and as soon as we get back to Manhattan I want her to meet the other kids."
"You don't think it is a little soon for that?"
"Olivia, they are her brothers and sisters. The sooner we get them together, the better."
Olivia smiled. "You really think so?"
"I promised our little girl a family and I intend to give her one."
Elliot slipped his hand into Olivia's and squeezed it.
Olivia closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window to catch a nap.
A few hours later Elliot pulled the car over and turned to look at Olivia sound asleep. He reached his hand up and brushed some hair back from her eyes. She stirred a little, then looked over at him.
"Hey," she said softly.
"We have been driving for nearly ten hours," Elliot said softly. "The kids have been passed out for a while. I figured we could stop and get some dinner. Then find a motel and drive the rest of the way in the morning. Let them stretch out and get a good nights sleep."
"Sounds good," Olivia said with a yawn.
"There is a diner just up the road. I'm gonna gas up the car really quick and see if the attendant can tell me where to find a clean place to sleep for the night. I'll be right back."
"Okay."
Elliot pulled the car up in front of the diner and got out of the car. Olivia walked around to the back of the car and opened the door.
"Kenna, honey wake up."
McKenna opened her eyes and smiled at her mother.
"Hi mommy."
"Hi sweetheart. We're gonna go in here and get some supper. Then we're going to a hotel for the night. Do you have to go potty?"
"Yes," McKenna whispered.
"Okay," Olivia said reaching for her hand.
"Wait mommy. I have to get Maureen."
Olivia smiled as McKenna leaned her forehead against Maureen's and whispered to her.
"Maureen, wake up if you have to go potty."
Olivia looked up at Elliot as he chuckled.
"Tell her it's time for dinner, Kenna."
"Wake up, wake up. Time for dinner," she whispered this time kissing Maureen on the forehead.
Maureen fluttered her eyes open and looked at McKenna.
"Hey, kid."
"Come on," McKenna said with a smile. "It's time to go eat."
"Okay, I'm awake." Maureen leaned forward and kissed McKenna's forehead. "Let's go eat."
They walked into the diner and looked around for a minute. Olivia asked the woman behind the counter where the restroom was. As she was talking to the woman she felt a little tug on her hand.
"Mommy, I want Maureen to take me."
"Kenna, honey…."
"No Liv, I don't mind."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Maureen said kneeling to look at her baby sister. "Why don't we leave Maggie here with your mommy, though so she doesn't get dirty. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have to go."
"Okay," McKenna replied smiling at Maureen as she slipped her hand into her older sister's. "Here mommy," she said "Maggie will stay with you and be a very good girl until I get back."
"Okay honey," Olivia said smiling at her daughter.
"It's nice to see them bonding," Elliot said as he found them a table. "You want some coffee?"
"Sure," Olivia replied slipping off her jacket and placing it over her chair.
"Two coffees," he said as the waitress put the menus on the table in front of them. "What for McKenna?"
"I'll just wait for hers. She'll probably want whatever Maureen gets," Olivia said with a smile.
"Good point."
"There they are," Olivia said with a smile as Maureen returned from the restroom holding McKenna's hand.
"Mommy, Maureen let me push the button!"
"She did?" Olivia shifted her eyes to look at Maureen.
"The hand dryer," Maureen laughed looking at Olivia.
"Maggie saved you a seat. Right next to Maureen."
"What are you ladies hungry for? Burger and fries?"
McKenna looked up at Maureen.
"Just a salad, fat free ranch dressing on the side, cottage cheese and an iced tea, please."
"Me too, please."
Olivia laughed.
"You dear, won't eat salad."
"Please, mom."
"Okay, but if you order it you have to eat it."
"I will."
Elliot put in their order and they made small talk as they waited for the waitress to bring their food. As the woman sat their plates down in front of them McKenna stared down at the platter of lettuce. She picked up her fork in her hand and turned to look at Maureen. She watched quietly as Maureen took a few bites of her dinner, then wrinkled up her little nose.
"You eat grass?" She asked looking up at Maureen.
"It's bunny food," Elliot replied leaning over to his youngest daughter.
McKenna giggled.
"Like this Kenna," Maureen said picking up the bowl of salad dressing and drizzling it across the lettuce.
McKenna did the same then watched as Maureen took another bite. She stuck her fork into the lettuce and took a big bite. Immediately she made an awful face and looked up at her mother. She finished chewing and forced the bite of salad to go down, chasing it down with a big gulp of tea.
"Mommy, I don't like salad."
"I told you that you wouldn't like it."
McKenna stirred her fork around in the cottage cheese picking at it for a while before eating only the bits of pineapple that had been placed on the top for decoration.
"Are you finished?" Olivia asked her.
"Yes, momma."
"You didn't eat much."
"It's yucky."
Elliot looked at Olivia then back down at McKenna.
"Would you like a hamburger and French fries?"
"Can I mommy?"
"Are you going to eat it?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Okay."
"Yes please," McKenna said grinning at Elliot as he flagged down the waitress.
"Here, you can have some of daddy's fries until yours are done."
"Thank you, daddy."
"You're welcome, baby girl."
After dinner Elliot drove them a few miles up the road where he got them two joining hotel rooms. McKenna insisted on sleeping in the room with Maureen, leaving Elliot and Olivia to share the other room.
Olivia gave her daughter a bath and tucked her into bed with Maggie and in moments she was sound asleep. She walked back into she and Elliot's room and pulled her pajamas from her duffel bag tossing them on her bed.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" She asked Elliot as she pulled the door almost all the way shut.
"She'll be fine, Liv. You are only a few feet away."
"We should have gave them this room. I could have slept in the other bed and gave you the single."
"Now I'm bad enough you don't want to share a room with?"
"Hey, do you remember what happened the last time we slept in the same room?" Olivia asked pointing toward the door to McKenna and Maureen's room.
"This time we are in separate beds."
Olivia laughed. "You just make sure all of your parts stay over there and I'll make sure all of mine stay over here."
Elliot smiled and laughed.
Olivia grabbed her clothes and moved to the bathroom to dress for bed. When she returned she checked on the girls. She pulled the blanket up and tucked them both in and placed Maggie in McKenna's hands. She kissed her little girl on the forehead.
"Good night baby girl," she whispered.
"Night Liv," Maureen whispered in the darkness.
Olivia smiled. "I thought you were asleep."
"Almost."
"Sometimes she has nightmares. If she has any trouble sleeping or wakes up scared, just call for me."
"I will. But she'll be fine."
Olivia walked back to her room and climbed into bed.
"Everything okay over there?" Elliot asked.
"I'm fine," she laughed.
"No Liv, I meant in the girls room."
"Oh, yeah. Kenna is already asleep and Maureen is getting there."
"Good night, Olivia."
"Good night, El."
