Chapter 10 Friends and Holy Men

The next week

Saturday night, Natalia and Olivia sat in the restaurant just outside of Springfield.

"So do you have any family besides your brother?"

"Nope. He lives in Mexico or South America. You know a free soul. I only hear from him when he is in trouble or needs money. What about you?" Olivia just realized she didn't know much about Natalia's past, just the overview she received at every turn.

"Um, actually I have a son. His name is Raphael. He's only seven." Natalia rumbled through her purse until her found the picture. She handed it to Olivia.

The picture was of a little boy smiling, with two front teeth missing.

"Oh my God he looks just like you." Olivia smiled at the picture. Her eyebrows frowned. It was weird that of all their conversation Natalia having a son was never brought up.

Natalia knew what Olivia was thinking. "He lives with my parents, in Chicago."

"You know I have an early meeting in Chicago next week. You should come maybe we can stop by and meet him."

Natalia eyes brighten then darkened. It had been almost 4 months since Nicky let her see him. But she couldn't take Olivia to her parents. They had already kicked her out and almost disowned her when they heard about her alleged ungodly relationship with women.

"I don't know. My parents don't like visitors."

"Come on, he's your son. We'll swing by and pick him up. Make it a day. And didn't you say Nicky was going to some mandatory training that week in Texas." Olivia could see the thought of seeing her son made her happy. If seeing her son was going to accomplish that then so be it.

"Okay, but I should call them first."

"No problem. And don't worry I don't bite. Unless you ask nicely." Olivia winked at Natalia.

"I love you…r jokes." Natalia quickly recovered. It had been on the tip of her tongue all evening. They didn't need another episode like last week. This was the first time they had met after the party and she could still feel it between them.

Olivia looked at Natalia. It was slowly killing her, she wanted Natalia. She wanted to be able to go outside and say I love you back without having to apologize.

"So, how come no one likes you?" Natalia was curious; she hadn't found a single person to vouch for Olivia.

"Who?"

"Blake, Frank, the whole police department, that grocery clerk, some of your staff."

"Well, Blake doesn't not like me, she doesn't like Doris."

"You're friend, the lawyer?"

"Yea, it was back in college."

"What happened?"

"Short version, Doris screwed Blake."

"How?"

"The kind when you don't call the next morning."

"Oh, that screwed." Natalia laughed. You never know people.

"Now they have this on and off thing. She's just jealous cause Doris has a different girlfriend every week."

"And what about you?"

"I used to be like that, but something better came along." She smiled at Natalia before resuming her train of thought. "Now I only have one."

Natalia smiled. Natalia slipped the wedding band off her finger hiding it in her purse She called me her girlfriend. She replayed Olivia's words, every time her smile got bigger.

Olivia dug her fork into the chocolate cake. Slowly she guided the fork to Natalia mouth, intently watching as the other woman's lips wrapped around the silver utensil.

Natalia moaned at the first taste to the rich cake.

"Oh that is sexy." Rodney walked up to the small table. A shit eating grin was plastered to his face.

Olivia smiled weakly at him. She loved the man but she really wanted to be alone with Natalia. "Rodney."

"Long time no see green, where you been. And who is this tasty little treat." Rodney smiled at Natalia. He backed off, when Olivia cleared her throat. He respected boundaries. If Olivia wanted to be stingy that was okay, she had shared plenty of times before. If what he heard was correct she was already sharing the woman.

"This is Natalia. Natalia this is Rodney, an old friend of mine." Olivia introduced the two.

"Hi, Rodney." Natalia didn't look at him directly; something about him was off putting.

"Natalia." The man turned his attention to Olivia. "So, green. You want to…" Rodney peeked at Natalia before nodding his head to the exit of the restaurant.

"No now, maybe tomorrow." Olivia shook her head. She didn't want to conduct business in the presence of Natalia. Natalia had made her stance on the subject clear and she didn't want to lose whatever they had together.

"Ok, I'll see you later. It was nice meeting you, Natalie." Rodney walked away, misprinting Natalia's name on purpose. He didn't like her already. She was getting in the way of his friendship with Olivia.

Olivia gave Natalia an apologetic smile. "Where were we?" She dug another fork full of cake for Natalia.

"Who was that?"

"No one important, what's more important is having a good night." Olivia offered the fork again. She slowly feed Natalia, knowing the conversation about Rodney was not over.

The next morning Natalia went to church. The sermon had been over for 30 minutes. She still sat in the pew.

"You know I see you every Sunday and you always look like you need to talk." Father Ray walked up beside her.

Natalia continued to stare at the statue in the front of the church. "I want to confess but I already known what you will say." The man had always been polite to Natalia. He didn't seem like the one to judge. But to her he was a man of god and all of them were alike. They were men.

Father Ray sat beside one of his favorite members. Natalia had only missed one sermon since joining the church. She would attend every function, sale and meeting. She was a woman of few words and that usually meant something was wrong. But her didn't push if he had learned anything from his first few run-ins with Olivia is was that the more you push the more likely you are to be assaulted. "How about you have the conversation, anyway? I'll just listen. You can play both parts. If I disagree I'll jump in."

Natalia smiled, he was different from her priest in Chicago. "Hey, Father Ray, Forgive me for I have sin. It has been six days since my last confession. 'What have you done my child?' I have lied to many people. I lied to you so many times. 'What have you lied about?' I told you I slipped in the tub, really my husband hit me."

Father Ray remembered that conversation. He knew she was lying. Most people didn't know he had a degree in sociology and psychology; he was trained to notice liars and people who truly needed a helping hand.

"I don't know what to do about it. 'You should hang in there, stick it out. Believe that god with give you the strength. And he will never put you through more that you can take.'"

Father Ray's neck snapped back, a little ticked she would think that. "Okay you stop right there. I would never tell you to hang in there. Natalia I know a place where they shelter abused women."

"I know, remember I volunteered there a couple of week ago." Natalia slumped in the pew. It felt good to tell someone.

"Do you still love him?"

"No, I don't stay because I love him. On the contrary I hate his guts and I'm not scared for MY life."

"Then why do you stay?"

"Our son. Nicky will hurt him to get to me. And my parents. I took Rafe with me one time and he still found us. He always finds me." Natalia leaned back against the back of the pew.

"He's a police officer right?"

"Yes, and well connected throughout the force."

"Is there something else?"

"I am having an affair." Natalia said it so fast Father Ray almost missing it.

"Oh."

"I know it's wrong."

"Given the circumstances I would be hard pressed to blame you, but that doesn't make it right."

"That's not all."

"Okay."

"It's with a woman named Olivia Spencer."

"Well I guessed I should have guessed that." He laughed in his head. That's Olivia. I should have put it together a long time ago. Of all the conversations I've had with Olivia, she was practically telling me who this new love was.

"I should have known you knew her."

"Yes I know her very well. Ahh, not in that way" He assured Natalia. "Natalia, do you think that is wise?"

"That's just the thing. I know it's not but for some reason I keep going back for more. I have this burning feeling when she's next to me. And when I'm away from her, she's all I can think about. I just want being around her and touch her, you know?" Did I just say that? A blush rose on her face.

"Yeah you did just say that, but it stays here. And I know what you mean."

"I know everyone says she's a bad person but I don't see it. She is sweet and funny."

"That's the Olivia I know too. You know we talk sometimes."

"About what? Sorry I know you can't tell me."

"We talk about God and the world." The priest thought about his next words. "I am going to advise you that, problem one needs to be solved before you can do anything with number two."

"I know."

"I also want to tell you to be careful. Olivia is very fragile even if it doesn't seem like it, and things can go downhill quickly."

"I think maybe falling for her. I'm just worried, with Nick, Raphael and her problem."

"So you know about that." Father Ray sighed. I suppose everyone does.

"Yea, want to help but I don't exactly have a lot of moral ground to stand on." What would I say, "Hey I know I'm cheating on my husband with you but I think you should really stop doing that."

"You don't need moral ground you need leverage and a strong front." Father Ray patted Natalia's hand.

"I have to get home." Natalia rose from her seat.

"Natalia I know you have your reasons for not leaving but I really want to help you. So if you ever want to leave or disappear. I know people who could help. There are retreats that shelter woman and children. The police have no jurisdiction." Father Ray held her hand. "Just think about it. And you are forgiven…be careful." He gave the hand a pat before letting it go.

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Father Ray walked into the bar with is bible in hand. He sat at the bar ordering water. The patrons knew he was coming, like clockwork. Some even talked to him about their souls and problems. Saturday and Sunday night seemed to the busiest night for scarred souls

"God damn! If it ain't my favorite hypocrite." Olivia unsteadily walked toward the priest.

"Olivia! There is still time to repent." He sipped his water.

"Still trying to save people in bars?" She sat beside Father Ray. Her eyes were wide, movement fast and unsteady.

"If they won't come to church, I bring it to them." He smiled. "You come over here to talk or just mess with me."

"Both. Bartender, get the padre here a double and I'll have the bottle." Father Ray waved the drink off. The bartender sat the bottle in front of Olivia.

"What's wrong Olivia? You know not to drink when you're high." He tried to remove the alcohol. Olivia was faster, gripping the bottle, snatching it out of his reach.

"Don't tell me what to do." Olivia voice raised a little. She was no longer in a friendly mood.

Father Ray look pass the brunette and saw Rodney looking at them. The man acted like he was her protector when he was only hurting her. "What did you want talk about?"

Olivia shrugged her shoulders. "I have a joke for you. A Sunday school teacher was teaching her class about religion and explaining how after death the soul goes to heaven and the body stays on earth. So she started asking her students questions, and then she asked a boy, what, did I say goes to heaven first? He said," Olivia pause as giggles erupted, "Well you said that it's the soul but it's wrong it's the legs, last night I went into my parents room and saw my mom screaming with her legs up in the air saying OH GOD AM CUMING!" Olivia laughed so hard she almost fell off the stool.

Telling me dirty jokes, it's not going to work. "Olivia, how many people know what happened?" The priest had been through this before.

Her laughter died. "Me, you, Rodney, Doris, and Jack, here." She lifted the bottle.

"This is not going to help with the feelings you are having." He pointed at the bottle. "Let me help."

"I don't need it and I didn't ask for your help, okay…Oh, I remember why I came over, I wanted to give you a check for that feed the children or whatever it is."

"You mean the new campaign to help foster children."

"Yea, cause I know how they feel." Olivia took a big swig of alcohol.

"Olivia?"

"Yes, father." She laughed at the term. Olivia always thought it was a joke to call him Father or just out of his name period.

"Olivia, I want to talk to you about Natalia."

"Who the fuck told you?" Olivia leaned closer to the man

"It doesn't matter. I want you to break it off." Father Ray held his hand up before Olivia could protest. "There is a good reason why I am asking you to do this. Just know that it will be better for the both of you if you stop this now before anything happens." Father Ray lowered his voice to a whisper. "Natalia can't keep this up, what if her husband found out."

"He won't." Olivia shook her head in disbelief. "No, why is it I'm the one always losing. Every time, I'm the one who has to lose. Not this time. You were right I have to take control of my life and I am. I am not going to let you decide who I can and can't date."

"Olivia…"

"No, for the longest I have been waiting for someone like Natalia. She makes me feel better about everything. She cares for me and I care for her. You and the man upstairs can't stand to see me happy, can you?" Olivia hands flew through the air. The bottle slipped from her hand crashing to the floor.

The patrons of the bar kept to themselves never stopping to see what the noise was.

The two sat at the bar silently waiting for both their emotions to simmer.

"There is nothing that would make me happier than to see you happy, but this won't do it. It will get you hurt in the long run." Father Ray sighed seeing he wasn't getting through to the woman. "You know where to find me if you ever want help or talk."

"Don't need it." Olivia got up from the stool. "Got all the help I need." Olivia nodded to the pool table where Rodney and two women stood. Neither one was playing. The pool table was serving as a stabilizer for all three. If they were to let go, they probably would be very aquatinted with the dirty floor.

"Wait," He dipped his finger in the water painting the cross on her forehead. "You are absolved."

"Thank you." Olivia whispered as she staggered back to Rodney.