Previous Disclaimers Apply

Chapter 14

"Oh my God! I can't believe it's really you!" Exclaimed Olivia.

"It's me. I'm really here. What are you doing here?" Asked the man.

"We came to visit Ava." Said Olivia.

"Ava? Peralta?" Said the man as her turned to Ava.

"Why would you come to see her?" Asked the man.

"Oh that's right, you left before we found out. Sweetie, Ava's my daughter. I had her when I was sixteen and had to give her up for adoption." Said Olivia.

Natalia is more confused now. Why is Olivia so at ease with this man, calling him Sweetie. I still don't even know his name. Natalia trusted Olivia, she knew that Olivia would explain everything.

"Really? Wow." Replied the man.

"Is this Sarah?" Asked Olivia looking down at the beautiful shy little girl who was trying to hide behind her father's leg.

The man bent down and picked the little girl up.

"Sarah, this is your Auntie O." Said the man as he introduce the little girl to her aunt.

"She so big. A lots happened since you left. Have you guys had lunch? We have plenty of food. Please come join us so we can get caught up?" Asked Olivia.

Now Natalia was getting a little perturbed.

"What do you say Sweetie? You ready for lunch?" Asked the man to his daughter.

"Can Emma come?" Asked the little girl.

"You bet. She's your cousin, all these folks are our family." Said the man to his daughter.

"Yay!" Said Sarah as she clapped her hands.

Family, Sarah and Emma cousins. I really don't understand. Thought Natalia.

"Olivia?" Asked a slightly nervous Natalia.

"It's OK. I'll explain. Come on." Said Olivia as she linked her arm with Natalia's.

Ava sensing Olivia, Jonathan and Natalia needing a few minutes took the little girls to the bathroom to clean them up and wash their hands. The three arrived at the blanket and Olivia turned to Natalia.

"Talia, I'd like you to meet my nephew, Jonathan and the little girl is his daughter Sarah. Jonathan, this is my girlfriend, Natalia Rivera." Said Olivia proudly.

"Girlfriend, oh, OK." Said Jonathan with a bit of a smirk to which earned him a slap on the arm from Olivia.

Jonathan extended his hand to Natalia.

"Nice to meet you. Welcome to the family."

"Thank you, you too."

"Let's sit down." Suggested Olivia.

"Olivia, I don't understand. Sam's not old enough to have a son his age?"

"He's not Sam's son, he's my late sister's son. It's a long story and I'll fill in the details later. Short version, Jonathan's birth parents are Reva and the late Prince Richard. I arranged for my sister and her husband to adopt him to protect him from Edmund. Edmund had sworn to kill any heirs Richard had. Jonathan didn't find out that Reva was his birth mother until a few years ago. He left town before I found out that Ava was my daughter."

"Oh wow. Why did you leave? I mean if your mom and Olivia are in Springfield they could help you with Sarah."

"Sarah's mom is Lizzie." Said Jonathan.

"As in Spaulding?" Asked Natalia for clarification.

"Yes. After Sarah was born I took her to protect her from Alan. Lizzie hated that I had to do it, but she understood. Alan was out of control and I couldn't let him get his hands on her. So I've been living off the grid. I've snuck back home once or twice to check on Reva, but it's been nearly a year now since I last talked to her. So girlfriend, huh? How did that come about?"

"How about we save that conversation for later." Said Olivia as Ava approached with Sarah and Emma.

Ava and Natalia started serving out the food. Olivia told Jonathan that Jeffrey was Ava's father and detailed the fact that Ava and Jonathan were step siblings. He asked questions about Springfield happenings and they brought him up to speed. Olivia reluctantly told him about Reva's cancer coming back and that he was soon to be a big brother if everything went as planned. He hated being away from Reva especially with her being sick. She was in the hospital in isolation. After lunch Ava offered to play with Sarah and Emma to give Olivia, Natalia and Jonathan more time alone.

"So, now will you tell me how you two got together?" Asked Jonathan.

"In one second." Said Olivia as she pulled out her cell phone and started to make a call.

"Reva. Hey it's Olivia."

"To what do I owe the displeasure Olivia."

"Oh, just calling to check up on Springfield's old hag."

"Ha ha. You really shouldn't talk to someone like that while they are in the hospital, Olivia."

"I'll remember that when I'm actually talking to someone."

"What do you want Olivia?"

"Believe it or not, to brighten your day."

"You hanging up would brighten my day, so why don't I do that now?"

"Reva, wait."

"What Olivia? Olivia?"

Olivia handed the phone to Jonathan.

"Reva?"

"Oh my God! Jonathan? Is it really you?"

"It's me." Said Jonathan as he got up from the blanket and walked away.

"That was sweet of you to call Reva so that they can talk." Said Natalia as she gave Olivia a chaste kiss to her cheek.

"I love that boy with all my heart. He had a rough childhood. My brother-in-law was a real bastard who beat him and my sister."

"What happened? How did she die?"

"Her husband killed her. Not long after, he died too in a confrontation with Josh. It's been rough for him and Reva to bond, but they have. He had a lot of aggression built up inside him because of the abuse he suffered, but I think finding Reva and having Sarah has really helped him grow up and let go of all of that."

"Wow."

Soon everyone returned to the blanket. They had dessert. Emma and Sarah fell asleep while the adults continued to visit. They made plans for dinner at Ava's apartment on Tuesday night. Reluctantly Olivia said goodbye to Jonathan and Sarah and left back to Ava's apartment. The ladies were getting everything unloaded; they ended up separated, Olivia with Emma and Natalia with Ava. When Ava and Natalia were down at the SUV getting the last of the picnic items, Ava made an offer to Natalia.

"Natalia, if you and Mom want a night or two to yourselves, I would love for Emma to stay with me."

A little nervous, Natalia tried not to show it.

"Ava, that would be great."

"There's this great Spa and Resort in Napa Valley. They belong to the same group that owns the hotel (referring to the hotel that Ava works for and where the ladies are staying). We can get great deals on various packages. You guys could go for a night or two; get all pampered with massages, mani-pedis, mud baths, etc and maybe tour a few wineries. I know Mom would like that."

"That sounds wonderful Ava. Can you make the arrangements or do I need to?"

"I'll take care of it, just tell me which night or nights."

"Let's do one night; say Thursday night. We can go up there early and tour some of the wineries before check-in."

"Consider it done."

"Thank you Ava, for everything."

"I should be the one thanking you. Natalia, I've never seen my Mom this happy."

The ladies finished at the SUV, closed and locked it before heading back up to Ava's apartment. They stayed a little while before heading back to the hotel. Ava had to work the next day so they didn't want to interrupt her routine.

After arriving back to their hotel room, they sent Emma off to take her bath. Olivia opened a bottle of wine that she had chilling in the small refrigerator and poured each of them a glass.

"Today was so wonderful, running into Jonathan. Oh that was the best. I worry about him, being alone. I can totally understand him wanting to keep Sarah away from Alan."

"It must be hard, living like that. Not being able to go home or talk to family, make friends, not staying in one place too long."

They sipped their wine and settled on the sofa in each other's arms.

"Olivia? I've…I've… Ava mentioned us maybe going to Napa Valley for a day or two. What do you think?"

"That would be fun; I'd like to tour some of the wineries. I don't think Emma would have too much fun though."

"Well, when Ava mentioned it, she said she would keep Emma. We could have some time to ourselves."

"Oh, really." Said Olivia realizing where Natalia was going with this.

Olivia decided to have a little fun with her.

"I guess we could make a day of it. Pick a couple of wineries to see." Added Olivia.

"Well, I was thinking…Ava suggested…there is a…what if we stayed the night? Ava said that the hotel has a sister resort and spa in Napa Valley. We could be pampered a bit and still see some of the wine country."

"The night, alone, just you and me?"

"If you want too; it's too soon. I'm sorry I mentioned it."

"No, it's not too soon, definitely not too soon."

Olivia took both their wine glasses and set them on the coffee table. Olivia turned to Natalia and reached up to caress her cheek.

"I love you and I will follow you anywhere. I haven't pushed for us to make love because I did want to take that step until you were ready, until we both are ready. I want to be with you and make love with you and if that happens when we go to Napa, then we will be in a whole new phase of our relationship and our life together. But if it doesn't then that's OK too."

"I want it to Olivia, happen. I'm tired of waiting."

Natalia leaned in to kiss her love. They spent a few minutes exploring each other's mouths, pulse points and ears before the settled down and broke from their mini make out session.

"Alright, then we go to Napa Valley."

Olivia picked back up their glasses and took a sip of her wine.

"So when are we going?"

"I was thinking about Thursday night. We could leave early in the morning and see a couple of wineries before check-in. Maybe have a massage before dinner. The next day we could get mani-pedis and such before we head back to the city. What do you think?"

"Sounds like a plan."

They settled in for the night. The next day, Olivia and Natalia took Emma to Alcatraz. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. On Tuesday, they had a lazy morning; but that afternoon, Olivia had one conference call to attend so Natalia took Emma and they went to the movies and would hang out for a while until Olivia was free.

Not long after Natalia and Emma arrived back at the hotel they were off to Ava's to have dinner with Jonathan and Sarah.

TBC…