Olivia woke to the smell of cooking bacon on Christmas morning. She had almost forgot that Roman was there for a moment but she got out of bed and walked sleepily to the kitchen. He was standing over the cooker frying some bacon up and she noted he had set the table for the two of them too. "Morning" he said smiling at her , he seemed a little brighter she noticed. When he looked at her she suddenly became aware that she had no make up on , her hair was in a pile on top of her head and her pyjamas didn't match. "I'm just going to have a shower" she began to say but he dismissed her with a wave of his hand "Eat first , it'll get cold otherwise". Olivia self consciously hugged her arms to her chest , her vest top suddenly seemed like a bad choice of clothing . They sat at the table eating and Roman seemed a lot more relaxed "Feeling a bit better today?" She asked wanting to break the silence. His face clouded over "I slept so I guess that's good. I can't stop thinking about JoJo, waking up to her gifts this morning and I'm not there to see it. My heart feels like it's breaking". He suddenly stopped speaking and got up abruptly from the table , his voice had begun to wobble and Olivia knew with certainty that he was on the verge of breaking down . Roman was a tough nut and she also knew he wouldn't show that type of vulnerability easily. He took his plate to the kitchen without a word , when she followed him he was leaning over the sink his hands on either side . She approached him with caution his back was turned to her . "Don't" he said just as she was about to reach out to him. "It will just make it worse". She understood , instead she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder for a moment "I'm going to take a shower" . He nodded his head in return
After her shower she dressed in a bottle green long sleeved dress , tights and tan boots , she teased her hair into loose waves and put some gold hoops in her ears. She looked respectable but trendy, she was nervous meeting Romans family. When she was finally ready she went to the fridge and took out some wine and some chocolates. She was putting them in a gift bag when Roman walked in "You don't have to do that. My Mom won't be expecting anything." She turned to face him and his eyes glanced over her "I like your hair like that." She blushed a little "Thank You, ready to go?". They drove along listening to Christmas music and talking on occasion , the heating was on so it was very cosy and Even though Romans head wasn't with it , he tried his best to make conversation. As they neared the house Olivia felt her nerves begin to form in her tummy . She was having second thoughts about all of this. "So what exactly have you told your family about me and my situation". Roman looked at her momentarily "I told them your plans fell through at the last minute and I didn't want to leave you alone at Christmas. They got it , said to go get you and bring you back. My family are cool, try not to worry ok?". "Ok" she agreed "plans falling through doesn't require much explanation I guess. That makes me feel better". Romans suddenly pulled a right "Good because we are right here".
The house was gorgeous , generous front garden and she could see a dock at the back of the porch with some boats tied up. Roman led the way and she followed him uncertainly, the gift bag in her hand . As they neared the front door the screen door was thrown back and an older woman with cropped dyed blonde hair , sallow skin and beautiful eyes stepped onto the porch . She looked at Roman with such concern and love , Olivia knew immediately that this was his mother . She grabbed him into a bear hug , holding extra tight and then she surveyed him "Are you alright?". He rubbed her arm affectionately "Yes Mom , come meet Olivia". His mother turned her attention away from her son and to Olivia , "Hello dear I'm Lisa it's lovely to meet you, come meet the crazies". His mom simply linked Olivia's arm and like that she was taken into the fold. The gift bag was handed to someone along the way as she was introduced to his three sisters Summer , Vanessa and Maritza and then his brother Matthew or Rosey as they all called him. They hugged her , each and everyone of them and in the living room were easily 10 children all surrounded by a mountain of toys . "Grandkids" a voice said in her ear "crazy sons a bitches the lot of them, there's a bar down the street , what do you say we make a run for it?". Olivia laughed and turned to face the owner of the voice , Romans Dad Sika, a former wrestler and notorious for his good natured ways. "Olivia, nice to meet you". Sika took her hand gently "hmm guess Roman is a chip off the old block you remind me of my wife Lisa when we met , you look a little alike". Olivia was mortified "Oh no it isn't like that I have a boyfriend and He has just found out all this about Galina"she trailed off because she realised with every word she was saying Sika seemed to be studying her more in depth. "Dad what are you doing quizzing Olivia here , it's Christmas , come on now" Rosey had come to her rescue and she was glad to see him. "So are any of those yours?" Olivia asked pointing to the room "Two little girls dressed in the red fighting over that doll" he said, making no move to split them up or intervene. Olivia felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned to see Roman carrying a glass of white wine , he was in a conversation with someone else so he just handed it to her , she took it and immediately felt better when he flashed her a little wink.
Lisa had cooked a feast , it amazed Olivia how she had the capacity to cook for twenty plus people , she had set the kids up in a separate room with theirs and all the adults sat at the main dining room table. Roman was sat next to Olivia thankfully and when he took the seat next to her she saw that the day was beginning to take its toll on him , he looked so sad. She caught his eye and he gave a little shake of his head. He didn't want to talk about it . So instead she turned her attention back to the table where everyone was chatting , she saw Romans siblings from time to time try to engage him but to no success . Instead he responded but wasn't really engaged , he kept checking his phone over and over and she saw him frantically typing messages. She could see his family were getting concerned and frankly she felt him totally disengage also . So she waited for a moment when his phone was on the table and turned to him "what stage of our friendship are we at? She said discreetly so no one could hear. "What do you mean ?" . She looked into those eyes that made so many women swoon "Like are we at the stage where I can call you out on shit?". He rolled his eyes "Not today , not you too. I don't need anymore shit thank you. Mind your business". He said it so coldly and matter of factly that it suddenly felt all wrong. Being here on Christmas Day with a family she didn't know . She didn't say a thing , instead excusing herself from the table. She walked out into the cold discreetly grabbing her purse and coat. Her eyes pricked with tears but she didn't dare look back. She could call a cab she thought or maybe a car service . She was googling when she heard the door open . "So on a scale of one and being a total dick where do I rank?". "Total Dick" she said before walking off the porch and heading towards the street "Hey wait up" Roman said calling after her. Olivia rounded on him , pure rage seething through her "No I will not wait up, I came here for you. I went against everything I feel about family and Christmas for you. And then you speak to me like that . No way I ain't a doormat , find someone else to treat like crap because I am out of here". She went to storm off when he said something that stopped her in her tracks " Your the only thing keeping me sane" .she faced him , he was looking down at his shoes his hands in his pockets and kicking dust . "What?". He didn't make eye contact "Yeah finding out about you and getting to know you and trying to be there a bit for you I guess , that's stopped me from losing it. And now I have messed that up too". She walked towards him hesitating in front of him for a moment "You're an idiot" she said. " Come on dinner is getting cold". Romans head snapped up "Wait you are not leaving". Their eyes met "No I'm not leaving, no matter how much of a dick you are, let's call it a pass. You won't get another". He broke into a grin his first of the afternoon. "So what has got you so pissed?". "Galina, we were fighting by text . That's dude spent Christmas with them . I feel like I married a stranger like how could she do this?. She said I could have JoJo the day before we go back. Is this going to be my life now ? Fighting to see her?". Olivia could see his wheels turning so she touched his elbow gently "Roman , things are going to change. Life will be different but how you respond to it will build character. You are a great guy don't let this ruin you. Because I kind of like you". This time he put an arm around her shoulders in affectionate move "I kind of like you too Liv".