NEVER FORGET
Chapter 20.2

Olivia stood there, stiff like she would be a statue, her brain not able to process the sudden rush of emotions, which had been caused by her daughter's words and reaction.

"Natalia, you brought her back. You brought my mommy back! I told you...I would always remember her voice…"
The little girl was bouncing through the kitchen happily and the latina couldn't help, but smile.

The older woman still hadn't moved or said anything, which caused Natalia to worry, so she helped Olivia to sit down because she was afraid that the hotelier would collapse any second.

"Mommy, are you okay?"
Emma was by Olivia's side in an instant, looking at her mother expectantly.

"I'm good, baby…I'm…it's just…I was so afraid you would be mad at me…" Olivia answered after a while, cupping her daughter's cheek with her right hand, trying to smile.

"I'm not mad. I never was. I'm just so happy that you are back…" the little girl commented immediately, "But I'm sad too…because you are so sick."

"I know, Emma. I know. I'm scared too. And it won't be easy, but I will try my best to be okay soon."

"You will get healthy again, right? Because you just came back…"
The little girl practically jumped in her mother's lap, holding on tight, about to start crying.

"I won't leave again, baby. I promise. Natalia said there is no way that I give up", Olivia replied, stroking over Emma's head carefully.

"Natalia is the best!"
Emma sounded so proud and so confident in that moment, that Olivia had to laugh out loud, "You're right, Emma. She sure is."
And for a moment the older woman looked at the latina, who had watched the scene in silence, had shed a lone tear of utter happiness about Olivia's and Emma's reunion, just to whisper "Thank you" in Natalia's direction, who answered with a simple nod.

Natalia had sent Emma and Olivia to the living room to catch up in private while she was finishing dinner and she had to smile at the laughter she heard from there.

Now that she was in the kitchen by herself she felt so at ease with everything because it had been magic to watch Olivia's walls melt down within a second once Emma had broken the "spell".

The latina would never admit it, but deep down she had hoped and counted on Emma's words from back then, when she had visited the little girl at the orphanage and Emma had told her that she would always remember her mother's voice.
She had prayed that it was true from the moment the hotelier had told her about her cancer diagnosis, knowing full – well, that it might be the only thing in the world, which could make Olivia fight for real.

"You knew it, didn't you?"

The hotelier's voice made Natalia jump because she had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn't realized she wasn't alone anymore, "Huh?"

"You knew that Emma would realize it was me the second I would say a word. Don't even try to deny it, Natalia. You knew it..." Olivia repeated.

"Uhm…I…well, yes, I assumed. Actually I hoped that she would because…I meant well. I didn't mean to hurt anyone", the latina tried to defend herself and her actions.

"I know."
Olivia's voice was so soft that it sent chills down the latina's spine.

The next thing Natalia realized was that the hotelier pulled her into her arms fiercely and put a heartfelt kiss on her cheek before she locked eyes with the latina, "Thank you, Natalia. For everything you've done for me. And Emma. You have no idea how much that means to me."

Too lost in the sensation of the simple kiss and the tingling spot on her cheek, where Olivia's lips had touched it only seconds ago, Natalia wasn't able to say a word, so she just nodded and smiled one of her dimpled smiles.

They had spent a great first evening together at the farmhouse, but Natalia had been lost in thought more than once.
Being so close to Olivia made her feel strange – in a good way though.
She loved having the older woman around, being able to look into those stunning green eyes whenever she wanted, but she didn't understand why she felt that way.

And how was it possible that she didn't miss Frank more?
Shouldn't she be more sad about the fact that he had practically told her off just the other day?

She was about to go to bed when she bumped right into Olivia on her way upstairs and the latina was startled once again.

"I was looking for you", Olivia stated simply.

"Is something wrong?" the latina was worried immediately.

"No, not at all. Can we talk for a second?"

"Of course. Just come with me."

And so Natalia found herself sitting on her bed together with Olivia Wolfe only a few minutes later.
And she had to admit that it felt good to have the older woman that close again.

"You know…Emma told me that it's been my voice and the way I looked at you when she had come bumping into the kitchen today, which had given my identity away. Can you believe that? She is so unbelievably smart", Olivia started the conversation.

"Like her mom."

The hotelier smiled at the latina's comment and continued, "I have an appointment with my lawyer on Monday because I want a divorce. So, I thought I could ask him what we can do so you can keep Emma, no matter what. And I'll take responsibility too because I'm her mother. But in case something happens to me I want you to raise her because you are an outstanding person. And I don't want her to be taken away again. She has lost enough people in her life. What do you think?"

"I…I don't know what to say. I mean…of course I'll take care of Emma, but I don't wanna think about you…" Natalia wasn't able to keep speaking.
She couldn't imagine a life without Olivia in it anymore and the bare thought that the older woman could die scared her to death.

"I know, I know", the hotelier whispered and pulled the latina into a fierce hug.

"Promise me that you will fight with everything you have, Olivia", Natalia said with shaking voice, tears welling in her eyes, "Because I can't lose you. I don't know what I would do without you."

Looking into those warm brown eyes, which were filled with so much worry, Olivia had to take a deep breath, "I promise."
And then the hotelier wiped the tears, which were running down the latina's cheek, away with her thumb carefully.

For a while they just looked at each other, trying to regain their strength and then Olivia broke the silence, "Why didn't you tell me that Frank wasn't okay with me moving in? I could hire a nurse and stay at The Beacon easily. It's no big deal. I don't want you to lose your boyfriend because I have cancer."

"No! I want you to stay. Olivia, you are my friend and this is my house. I decide whom I share my home with. If Frank can't accept that he isn't the right guy for me anyway", Natalia answered honestly.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."
The latina's response had come without hesitation and she had sounded so convincing that Olivia's last doubt had been eliminated right that second.

Natalia hadn't been able to get much sleep that night.
Whenever she had closed her eyes she had seen Olivia's face.
Not that it would have bothered her, but she simply wasn't used to thinking about another woman that much.
Well, not any woman.
Olivia.

She could have sworn that she still could feel the hotelier's lips on her cheek.
What was going on with her?
And what should she do about Frank?

Natalia simply was confused by her own thoughts and feelings and she knew that she had to get herself together because Olivia's fight against the cancer would cost all of them enough.

Olivia, who was lying in a bed just two rooms away from Natalia's, wasn't able to sleep either.

Maybe Natalia wasn't aware of the situation yet, but the hotelier definitely was.
But Olivia also knew that it was no option and it never would be.

Somehow she had to bring the latina and her boyfriend back together.
That was the least she could do after all Natalia had done for her.
And so she sent a text message to a certain friend before she finally drifted off to dreamland.
Josh was the only person, except from Natalia, whom she trusted.
And he would be thrilled to help her play Cupid.