Previous Disclaimers Apply
Chapter 25
Mel pulled Olivia and Natalia aside.
"I was wondering, since you two will be getting married, have you considered changing Emma's name now that Natalia is adopting her? When I file these papers, I can also file the necessary papers for changing her name? I don't even know if you guys had discussed taking one or the other's name or hyphenating Spencer-Rivera or something."
"Mel, we really hadn't talked about it. I mean everything has been happening so quickly." Replied Olivia.
She turned to the gallery and called for Phillip, Rafe and Emma to join them.
"Jellybean, your Ma and I have a question for you and we would also like to hear was your Daddy and brother think." Asked Olivia.
Rafe lifted Emma up to seat her on the lawyers table.
"OK, what question?" The little girl replied.
"Well, with your Ma adopting you and she and I getting married in a few weeks, we were wondering what you think your last name should be? Most of the time when a man and woman marry, the woman takes the man's last name and when a man adopts a child, the child takes the man's last name too. Your Ma and I, our situation is a little different." Explained Olivia.
"Sometimes when two women marry they combine their last names, like Spencer-Rivera or Rivera-Spencer. What do you think we should do?" Added Natalia.
The little girl sat there thinking a moment.
"Phillip, Rafe what do you think?" Asked Olivia.
"Well, she doesn't have the Spaulding name now, so it is totally up to her." Said Phillip.
"I think it's kinda cool, combining the names. You always have a piece of Ma and Mommy tied to you always. Mel, can we change my name too?" Asked Rafe.
"I need to sit." Said Olivia as she stumbled to the chair behind her.
"Olivia?" "Mom?" Rafe and Natalia spoke at the same time.
"I'm OK, I'm fine. You just caught me off guard. I mean a few short months ago you hated me, now you are calling me Mom, helping me pick out engagement rings and now you want to take part of my name. It's just a bit over whelming especially with the events of this past week."
Phillip handed her a glass of water. Things were quiet except for the chatter from their friends remaining in the gallery. Then a little girl's voice broke the silence.
"I know it is a funny middle name, but can my new name be Emma Spaulding Spencer-Rivera? That way I will have my Mommy, my Ma and my Daddy with me?" Asked Emma.
No one said anything at first.
"So Rafe, your name would be Raphael Spencer-Rivera. What do you think?" Added Emma.
"Raphael Spencer-Rivera. Rafe Spencer-Rivera. I like it." Replied Rafe.
"Mommy, Ma is that OK?" The little girl asked of her mommies.
"What do you think, Princess? Can you handle being Natalia Spencer-Rivera?" Asked Olivia as she stood back up to look at Natalia.
"Oh, I think I can handle that just fine. How about you, Mrs. Olivia Spencer-Rivera?"
"It does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it? So, it's settled then? We are now here forever ever known as the Spencer-Rivera family?" Asked Olivia.
A group of resounding "Yays" was heard by all.
"So, Mel, you got more forms with you for changing our names?"
"No, but I can get them from the judge's clerk. I'll be right back."
While, Mel was away, Olivia asked Emma about celebrating. She suggested Company. Olivia announced to the gallery to head over to Company for the celebration; that they would all be there shortly to join them.
After the papers were all signed, everyone met at Company. The celebration lasted long enough for everyone to have milkshakes. Emma said goodbye to her Daddy and she headed home with Rafe and Natalia. Olivia left to pick up Sam at the airport. She was hoping he would be in decent enough shape to talk before they arrived back home at the farmhouse.
"Sammy!"
"Liv!"
"Oh, I've missed you so much little brother."
"Me too, Sis. Me too."
"Come on, let's get your bags and get out of here."
They drove for a while, into town stopping at the park.
"Liv, why are we stopping here?"
"I want to talk to you about something and I would rather do it now before we got home. Come with me. I know just the spot."
Sam obliged his sister and got out of the car. He followed Olivia into the park until they landed at the gazebo.
"OK, Sis. What is it that has me flying around the world at the drop of the hat and you too scared to take me to your home?"
"Sammy, I'm not scared of anything. This is a conversation that I wanted to have between the two of us."
"OK, I'm listening."
"Good. Little brother, a lot has happened since you left Springfield. When you left I was still in a bad place after the transplant. Then when I had the heart attack, I realized I needed help. I couldn't get better and take care of Emma at the same time."
"Liv, why didn't you call me? I would have come back. Hell, you raised me. It would be the least I could do."
"Well, I didn't ask for help necessarily. It was sort of forced on me. Natalia. She wouldn't give up. I saw so much potential in her. She saved my butt more times than I care to count, not only my life, but at work too. When she took me and Emma in and she became my assistant, my world changed Sam. And it changed for the better. We fell into such an easy routine, we became a family."
"I know, she is a wonderful woman to sacrifice and help you the way she did."
"Don't let her hear you say that it was a sacrifice. Sammy, we became friends, best friends. Before we realized it, we fell in love."
"Liv? Really, in love with Natalia? OK. Give me just a minute here. You, oh how can I say this nicely to my sister…You've been married five times, the men in your life, well, let's just say that there has never really been a shortage there."
"It's not about men or women Sammy; it's about love. I finally found the person I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. It just happens to be a woman. It just happens to be Natalia Rivera. I love her Sammy. I love her like no one else ever before. Hell, I don't even think I knew what real love was until I fell in love with her. Emma loves her; she is already calling her Ma. It was little bumpy at first. It took a while for Rafe to come around. Ava was one of our biggest supporters."
"Well, you do look happy. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy Liv?"
"There is a reason for that Sammy. We are engaged. We are getting married in a few weeks and I am going to need my little brother to give me away. Think you can handle that?"
"Yeah, I can handle that." He said as he stepped forward to take his sister in his arms.
"There's more."
"More, how can there be more. Don't tell me, I'm going to be an uncle again?"
"Not, not exactly. Phillip is sick, Sam, dying. Emma has been told. Phillip has decided to give up his parental rights to Emma so that Natalia can adopt Emma. It was all official just a few hours ago."
"Oh, wow. How's Emma?"
"She is happy and sad of course; but she is a resilient little girl. With the support of her family and friends, she'll make it through this. We all will. I just wanted to bring you up to speed without an audience. I know it is a lot to take in."
"Yeah. I'm happy for you Liv; I really am. I can see how happy Natalia makes you. So seeing as I have been traveling for nearly 2 days now, can we go home? I've love a shower and a few hours of sleep."
"Absolutely, little brother, come on."
They made their way back to the car and headed to the farmhouse. There they would find that Emma and Rafe had a "Welcome Home Uncle Sam" Banner hung in his honor and the guest bedroom all made up for his extended stay. Olivia had every intention of keeping her brother there through the wedding.
As soon as he walked through the door he was attacked with hugs and kisses from his beautiful little niece.
"Uncle Sam! You're here, you're really here."
"I am Em. I'm here."
He scooped her up into his arms and twirled her around a couple of times.
"So, I understand that there has been a lot happening since I've been gone?"
"Yes. Ma and Mommy are getting married and Ma has adopted me." She said excitedly.
"But, Daddy is sick."
"I know Em. Your Mom told me about that. I'm so sorry to hear that. I want you to know that I am here for you. If you need anything, you can come to your Uncle Sam, OK?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck. When she pulled back the smile was back on her face.
"I have a new last name. You want to know what it is?
"You do? Why do you have a new name?"
"Because Ma is now my Ma like Mommy is so since they are getting married we decided to have new last names."
"You did? OK, so what is your new name?"
"Emma Spencer-Rivera. Emma Spaulding Spencer-Rivera."
"Spencer-Rivera, huh?" He said looking to Olivia.
"We hadn't really discussed it until Mel mentioned something about it after court. When she filed Emma's adoption papers, she also filed papers for legally changing Rafe, Natalia and my last names to Spencer-Rivera. Of course, I didn't think about all the IDs, credit cards, bills and such that we will have to change now; but it is worth it, every letter, every syllable." Olivia said as she moved to engulf her fiancé in a warm embrace.
When she pulled away, they kissed; kissed longer that their audience cared for.
"Aw, come on you guys." Said Emma.
"Get a room!" Added Rafe.
"We have one, son. It's right upstairs." Replied Olivia.
"Rafe, why don't you and Emma show Sam to his room and help him with his bags." Asked Natalia.
They all headed out leaving the brides to be in their kitchen alone.
"So Mrs. Spencer-Rivera, how do you feel about having a new little girl all your own?" Asked Olivia.
"I love it Olivia. She is our daughter, yours and mine. Aside from the pain of childbirth, I feel like I did the day Rafe was born. I have this new little life that is mine, depending on me to help them, feed them, teach them and love them. My heart is so full of love and happiness right now; it feels like it could explode." Said Natalia as a few tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Hey, come here Princess. She is yours. She loves you and our family. With the two of us as her mommies, she will be unstoppable." Said Olivia as she wiped away Natalia's tears.
"You're right. The rest of the world better watch out." Added Natalia.
TBC