Previous Disclaimers Apply

Chapter 21

Olivia started for home. She knew something was wrong. She could hear it in Natalia's voice. It wouldn't be something with one of the kids; Natalia would have said so on the phone. It's not work related; Blake is happy with Natalia as her assistant. Maybe Frank, though things with him had been going OK. She said it wasn't about the wedding. The more Olivia's thoughts wandered the more nervous and anxious she became.

Her heart sank when she pulled in the driveway and saw Phillip's car. But what is wrong? He said he had no issues with her relationship with Natalia. He supported it. Has he changed his mind? Did Alan get to him?

Olivia put the car in park and shut off the engine. She took a few deep breaths before heading inside. When she entered the kitchen she found her fiancé and her ex-husband sitting at the table with a couple of coffee mugs, holding hands and both nearly in tears.

"What's going on?" Asked Olivia cautiously, unsure of what she just walked in on.

"Olivia, come, sit." Said Natalia.

Olivia took a seat next to Phillip. Natalia moved to sit next to Olivia.

"Phillip came to talk to me. There's something that he, we need to discuss with you. It concerns Emma."

Olivia felt as though her heart was going to be ripped from her chest; but in the back of her mind, if he was going to try to take Emma away, she knew Natalia well enough that the young Latina would have wiped the kitchen floor with him by now. So he can't want to sue for full custody.

Phillip reached for her hand and Natalia the other. She knew this wasn't good, what ever it was. She took another deep breath in anticipation of her happy world imploding.

"Olivia, I came to talk to Natalia about Emma. She is going to need both of you and the rest of your family in the coming weeks."

"Why, what happened?"

"I'm sick, Olivia. It's something I picked up when I was away. I thought it had gotten better with the medicine the doctor gave me, but it actually went into remission. It's returned and it is worsening. I've seen Ed, it's…"

"Ed, wait his specialty is infectious diseases."

"Yes, the infection started in my lungs. It did permanent damage the first time. Now that it has returned, it has caused more damage to the lungs and has spread into the bloodstream."

"What are you saying Phillip? What is the treatment?"

"There is no treatment, Olivia. Ed can only treat the symptoms and make me more comfortable, there is no cure. I'm dying."

"No, you can't do this Phillip! You can't! You can't come back into Emma's life and make her love you and then leave. She has already gone through this once with me and the transplant; she can't do this again!"

Olivia had stood up now and was pacing the kitchen. She had to move; she couldn't sit still.

"Olivia, believe me how I wish this wasn't true. You know better than anyone how short life can be. I don't have much time, probably less than 2 months. I've been trying to make amends with Lizzie and James. Harley still won't let me speak to Zack. I've been trying to repair my relationship with my father, but I think I would need 10 lifetimes to do that. Emma is the one right thing in my life and I owe all of that to you and Natalia."

Olivia had stopped pacing and had sat back down. Tears were now falling freely down her cheeks. She now saw Phillip, the man she had created her beautiful daughter with and she now realized he wouldn't be here much longer. Soon Emma would lose her father. Natalia was at her side, her arms engulfing her and the sobs continued wracking her body and her heart.

Phillip stepped into the bathroom and returned with a wet washcloth. Olivia's tears had slowed. Natalia began wiping her face, her makeup a major mess now.

"I know we need to discuss how and when to tell Emma, but there is something else that I would like to discuss first." Said Phillip pausing to gather his composer.

"I know you can provide for Emma financially, but when Emma was born I had set up a trust like I did for all my kids. I have made you and Natalia the executor of the trust. Either of you can draw from it for Emma until she turns 25, then she will have full access to it. I know you both will be able to instill the values in her to be able to handle that kind of monetary responsibility."

Olivia seemed to be in a bit of a daze; at least that is how it appeared to Natalia. Her breathing had increased.

"Olivia, did you hear Phillip?"

"Yeah, yes. Trust fund, age 25."

Olivia was finding it hard to breath. She couldn't catch her breath. Phillip reached to the other end of the table for the papers that he had brought with him.

"Olivia, I want Emma protected; protected from Alan. There is only one way that I can think of to insure that he will have no say in her upbringing. I want to give up my parental rights to Emma, so that Natalia can adopt her."

Give up Emma…adopt…Olivia's mind was reeling. Did Phillip say he would give up his rights to Emma and let Natalia adopt her? He's sick, he's dying. Emma is going to lose her father, again! Then everything went black.

When Olivia awoke she was at Cedars; she would recognize the green and beige walls anywhere. Everything starting flooding back to her; being in the kitchen at home, Phillip telling her he is dying, his plans for Natalia to adopt Emma.

"She's awake." Said Natalia.

This time instead of Rick treating her, it was his father, Dr. Ed Bauer.

"Ed?"

"Olivia, just relax. You fainted. Just take a few minutes to come around."

"Ed, is it true? About Phillip? That he is dying?"

Phillip didn't have a chance to tell Ed that he was in the process of telling Olivia about his condition when she fainted. Olivia had started to come around just as Ed was asking these questions.

Ed looked to Phillip; Phillip nodded in agreement to Ed.

"Yes, Olivia, it's true. Phillip is sick, dying."

Olivia started to cry again a little.

"Dr. Bauer, is she going to be OK? Her heart, is everything OK?" Asked Natalia.

"I'm sorry, you are?" Asks Dr. Bauer.

Natalia opened her mouth to speak, but Phillip beat her to it.

"Ed, this is Natalia Rivera. She is Olivia's fiancé."

"Oh, I didn't know Olivia was, well, never mind."

"Dr. Bauer, I nursed Olivia back to health after her transplant. She and I do hold Medical POAs for each other."

"I see. Well, in that case, she is going to be fine. Based on the EKG she hyperventilated when Phillip was telling her about his condition and that caused the fainting spell. I would like her to remain here for a few hours; I don't see that an overnight stay is needed. I'll be back to check on you in a little while, Olivia. Try to relax."

Ed left, leaving the three to continue their discussion. Olivia was now sitting up in bed, Natalia on one side and Phillip the other.

"Olivia, do you remember what we were talking about before you fainted?" Asked Phillip.

"You said you wanted to give up your parental rights to Emma so that Natalia could adopt her."

"Yes. I don't want there to be any legal ties between Emma and my father. I think this is the best way to solve that."

"Are you sure?"

"I am, Olivia. I've thought about this for a while. I can see that you and Natalia have done a wonderful job raising her and I want that to continue. This is the only way that I see that happening. I have the papers ready."

He pulled the tray table over to Olivia and laid the papers out.

"This is the document that dissolves my parental rights to Emma. I've already signed it. And this one is the formal adoption papers for Natalia to adopt Emma. All we need to do and have your attorney review them, secure a court date and go before a judge to finalize everything."

"You've really thought this all through. This is what your want?" Asks Olivia.

"Yes, it is."

Olivia looks to Natalia. She is holding Olivia's hand; Olivia figures Natalia never let her hand go and held it in the ambulance and into the ER. She squeezed Natalia's hand.

"I know you love Emma like she is your own. I know what your answer is, but I want to hear you say it." Asks Olivia of Natalia.

"I already told Phillip, yes; but that we needed to talk to you before any papers were signed." Natalia paused and took a deep breath. "I couldn't love Emma anymore if she were my own. Yes, Olivia. It would be an honor to adopt Emma and officially become her second Mommy."

A few tears rolled down Olivia's cheeks. Natalia stood up and wiped them away before lightly kissing Olivia. She caressed her cheek a bit before sitting back down.

"Natalia, would you call Mel. See if she can come over here now or meet us at home later." Asks Olivia.

"I will."

Natalia stepped out to call Mel. She was able to reach her. It would be a hour or so before she could make it by the hospital. When Natalia returned to Olivia's room, she found her fiancé had drifted off to sleep with a somber Phillip sitting next to her still holding her hand.

TBC