Chapter 10: Reasons

When Olivia got to Alex's apartment, John had already started dinner.

"All you have to do is toss the linguini in with the clams once they pop open and if any clams won't open, throw them away."

"Seriously, how did you learn to make all this food?" Alex asked him.

"Another secret in the life of John Munch."

"I'm sure you'll find a lady some day who will marry you for your food if nothing else."

"A man can hope."

Olivia was surprised that John had cooked for her again. "Did you hire him as your chef?"

"He has a habit of taking over my kitchen. He's much better at cooking than I am, so I gladly step aside."

"Still setting stoves on fire."

"That was only once, and it was your fault."

"How was it my fault?"

"Someone kept nibbling on my earlobe and suggested we go back to bed."

"And you forgot to turn off the stove."

"The way your hands were wandering, I couldn't remember my own name."

Alex and Olivia were starting to get their banter back. It was the first tell that they were attracted to each other, but there was so much that was still buried. Alex still wasn't sure if she could trust Olivia with her heart again.

"Livia!"

Cassie came running when she heard her voice.

"I got a new doll from Uncle Trevor."

It was a business Barbie.

"It looks like you," Olivia commented.

"She has a job!"

Olivia smiled. How cute!

Cassie got her to play dolls while Alex finished dinner.

"I never took you for a dolls person," Alex told Olivia.

"I wasn't. I like trucks and basketball as a kid," but who could say no to Cassie.

"Can we watch a movie after dinner?"

"What do you want to watch Cassie?"

"Lady and the Tramp!"

"Sure." Alex turned to Olivia. "I hope you like Disney classics because they are what we watch until she falls asleep."

"You haven't introduced her to Hitchcock yet?" Olivia teased.

"Not until she's eight."

Olivia couldn't help compare the movie to her and Alex. It needed no explanation who was the lady and who was the tramp. Olivia had always feared not being able to be apart of her world. Alex thought it was nonsense, but she was born into luxury. No tramp would complain about her in the picture. Caroline Cabot had actually been quite nice to Olivia when she had met her, but Graham had not.

Flashback August 2003

Alex had taken Olivia to Cape Cod to visit her family. They stayed in the Cabot vacation home there.

While Alex was chatting with her mother about the Cabot Foundation, Graham took Olivia aside.

"With my father gone, it is my job to look out for Alexandra and protect the Cabot family name. I don't know how long you expect this gravy train to last but …"

"I'm not with Alex for her money. I love her."

"And you love her money!"

"I don't even know how much she has because I never cared enough to ask."

"Well she was born with more than you will ever make in your lifetime. At some point, she will get her act together and realize she needs to pursue a like kind woman if she wants any political future. I just hope you haven't bankrupted her before then."

Olivia was so upset that she cried for an hour. She was too ashamed to tell Alex what Graham had said to her.

Present

Casey came from more means than Olivia had, but she was by no means rich. She had to work for a living. Olivia felt more comfortable, like her family wouldn't judge her.

Once the film was over, Alex got Cassie in her pajamas and tucked her into bed.

"Did you want to watch another movie?" Alex questioned. It was only 8PM.

"Oh, what did you want to watch?"

"Have you seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?"

"No, but it sounds like something you would watch."

Alex threw a pillow at her. "It's really good."

"I'll be the judge of that."

Alex made popcorn and they put on the movie. The ADA had watched it a couple of times before. She resonated with the main character. Sometimes, she thought it would be easier to erase Olivia from her memories, so she wouldn't have to suffer the pain of losing her, but then she realized that the memories of love were worth the painful ones that came with it.

They had started off sitting separately, but at some point during the movie, Alex was leaning on Olivia and the detective had her fingers through her hair like old times. Olivia instinctively comforted Alex during the scenes where she cried. Once the credits fell, both women realized how intimate this all had been.

"I should go to bed," Alex said.

"Me too."

The women quickly separated and made a silent promise never to mention this again.

When Olivia went to bed, she couldn't stop dreaming of Alex's hands. She always had the smoothest skin and the gentlest touch.

Friday

Noon couldn't come fast enough for Olivia. She had way too many feelings about the ADA right now to be anywhere near her. Cassie was a bit of a distraction, but she also reminded Olivia of Alex, compounding the problem.

She waltzed right into Casey's office and gave her a big kiss, trying to get Alex off her mind. It worked, for now.

"What was that for?"

"Do I need a reason?"

"No."

"I'm going to go home now. Shall I bring dinner to your place?"

"I won't object to that," Casey said with a grin.

"I'll be over at 7PM."