7. Maureen

"Olivia."

The young woman's eyes widen in shock when her father's work partner suddenly pops up next to her while she's walking from her last class to her dorm. She stops walking and just looks at the brunette, at a loss for words.

"Maureen, I didn't mean to ambush you like this but we need to talk," Olivia explains.

Maureen glances around her and Olivia tells her that her father isn't with her.

"I hear you're pregnant," Maureen says neutrally, eyeing Olivia's long coat.

"That is correct, Maureen. And I hear that someone's been jumping to conclusions that couldn't be further from the truth."

"And you've come to me to set things straight? Is that it?"

Olivia can tell that Maureen is making an effort to stay polite, but her blue eyes can't conceal her unrest and anger about her parents' situation.

"Do you have a minute?" Olivia asks. "And somewhere we can talk privately?"

Maureen purses her lips and nods.

"Alright. I'm headed to my room. I think my roommate has another class now."

Olivia follows Maureen to her dorm. She checked Maureen's schedule at the administration's office, claiming she's there on police business and she's gotten away with the lie. She is here on behalf of a police officer, even if Elliot doesn't know about it so it was only half a lie, she's decided.

Maureen gestures at her desk chair after they've entered her room, and plops down on her bed after putting her backpack on the floor.

"Please. Sit."

Olivia sits down on the desk chair and turns it so she's facing Elliot's oldest daughter - the child he married her mother for when they found out she was on the way.

"Now I don't know what your mother or your father have told you and your brother and sisters," Olivia begins straight away, "but I need you to know that there is absolutely nothing going on between your father and me. There never has been. He is not the father of my baby and frankly, I find it very insulting for people to suggest otherwise. He's a married man and has always been faithful to your mother. I can't just stand by and do nothing when I see him getting hurt over something he has absolutely nothing to do with."

Maureen is quiet and just looks at her for a few long moments. Olivia knew going in that it wouldn't be an easy talk but she feels she has to be blunt about it. Maureen is old enough to see things for what they truly are. She isn't prepared for Maureen's next words though.

"Mom's always been jealous of your beauty."

Her words contain so much, and confirm to Olivia that Maureen knows what has been going on between her parents. Now she just needs to believe that Elliot has done nothing wrong.

"Dad used to tell her she was beautiful all the time, Maureen continues. "At first I thought it was sweet, but after a while, I thought it was getting a bit pathetic."

Maureen shakes her head sadly.

"And then you came along."

"Maureen, I never …" Olivia starts, but Maureen shakes her head and holds up a hand, stopping Olivia in her tracks.

"I'll believe you never wanted to, Olivia. But things happen."

"Not between your father and me. Ever."

"Do you expect me just to take your word for it?"

Olivia licks her lips and chooses her next words carefully. She's not here for herself after all. She's here for Elliot.

"I would hope you know your father well enough to know he's not the cheating kind. Everything he's ever done has been for you. For his family."

Maureen nods and Olivia can only hope that means she agrees with her about Elliot.

"So tell me, who is the father of your baby?"

Olivia had expected that question. She knows the truth won't exactly paint her in a favorable light with Maureen, but she doesn't really care. What matters is, that Maureen will see that her father is not to be blamed for anything.

"I took a long overdue vacation last July. I went to Miami and ran into a guy on the beach who was getting over breaking up with his girlfriend. We hit it off and had a fling. Afterwards we went our separate ways and six weeks later, I discovered I was pregnant."

Maureen stares at her and she can see the girl debating in her head if she should believe her or not.

"What's his name?"

"Miguel."

"Last name?"

Olivia bites her lip.

"Maureen … I haven't told him yet."

She can't have the young woman trying to find Miguel to verify her story when she hasn't even told him about the baby yet. When Maureen frowns, her blue eyes trained on her face, she continues.

"I know this looks bad. And maybe you'll think I'm a slut for sleeping with a man I only met a few days earlier, but it's the truth. I'm only human too Maureen, and I'm always alone so I have casual sex sometimes. You can think of me what you want but just … don't let your father suffer because of a decision I made. He has always been faithful to your mother. Always. He's the most loyal, principled man I know."

She's making sure not to make any negative comments about Kathy, although she wants to say something. But Maureen focuses on something else instead.

"You should tell that guy you're having his baby."

"You think so?"

Maureen nods again.

"If there really is a guy out there, then yes. I think he should know he's going to be a father."

Olivia shakes her head automatically.

"He's not going to be a father. I told your dad this too. I'm not going to ask him for anything. I'm having this baby on my own and I'll take care of it."

"What did dad say?" Maureen asks, and Olivia can tell that Maureen is beginning to open up just a little to the possibility that her father may be innocent in the matter.

"Your dad said that he would want to know if he was going to be a father."

"That sounds like him."

Olivia bobs her head and studies the young woman's face. She is pensive and looks exactly like her father when he is deep in thought. Olivia knows that she is getting through to Maureen and can't resist the urge to add,

"Your father was deeply hurt when your mom accused him of cheating on her. For him, it was the last straw after years of trying everything he could think of to prove to her that he loves her. It just was never enough to take away her insecurities and this … this accusation broke him. Basically, it's made him give up. He keeps saying it's not my fault but you can imagine I feel partly responsible, can't you?"

"If dad didn't cheat on mom with you and this baby isn't his, you are not responsible," Maureen states flatly, almost as if she's reading it from a piece of paper. "I need some time to think about this."

"Ortega," Olivia blurts out, and she takes a shaky breath. "His name is Miguel Ortega and he's from Tampa, Florida. I'd show you a picture if I had one but I deleted them from my phone after I got home from my vacation. Just … don't contact him, alright? Not until I've spoken with him myself."

"Are you going to?"

Olivia sighs. She still hasn't made her mind up. And so she tells Maureen honestly,

"I don't know yet."

"What's stopping you?"

Olivia's stomach clenches at the thought of what's stopping her. What's really stopping her. It's the first time she's putting it into words when she tells Maureen,

"I'm terrified that he'll try to take my baby away from me."