Previous Disclaimers Apply
Chapter 29
A few weeks had passed and everyone had settled into a summer routine. Emma was either at day camp or with Phillip. Rafe was still working fulltime and was finally making the decision about college though he had not yet shared it with anyone.
Natalia was tied up one day in back to back staff meetings and Olivia was in her office working on her franchising plans for the Beacon. She was realizing more and more that she really needed a manager so that she could focus on franchising. She was debating over three different properties in Indianapolis for the second Beacon to be built when a knock at her door interrupted her.
"Hey, I don't want to interrupt." Said Rafe.
"You aren't. Come in. What's up?" Asked Olivia.
Rafe came in and sat down in one of the guest chairs in front of Olivia's desk.
"You said that if I wanted a different job to just ask."
"I did. Have you had your fill of the maintenance department?"
"Yeah, I was hoping to do something different. Something more, dealing with the guests."
Olivia thought for a moment before an idea came to her.
"Rafe, have you given anymore thought to college or what you want to do long term?"
"For a long time I wanted to be a cop. If my record gets expunged I can still do that."
"Is that what you want?"
"I used too, but Ma's already lost my dad and being a cop would have me in harm's way more often than she would prefer. I don't think I could do that if something were to happen to me…"
"Yeah, I don't think neither your Ma or I could handle losing you. So not going to be a cop…what's next on the list?"
"Well, I know I've only been home for a short while, but I've really settled in. I feel like I am part of a real family for the first time in my life. You own the Beacon and Ma works for you, it's sort of like our family's thing you know? The Spaulding's have their big conglomerate, the Bauer's are doctors, the Cooper's have Company and the Spencer-Rivera's have the Beacon. What if I said I wanted to learn everything there is about running a hotel and maybe take over for you and Ma one day? Could you see me and Emma one day running the show?"
Olivia was trying to hold back the tears. She had always dreamed that the Beacon would be her children's legacy and now it appeared that would be coming true.
"Olivia?" Questioned Rafe when Olivia didn't say anything.
"Sorry, I…More than anything I've always wanted the Beacon to be my children's legacy, for Ava and Emma to run one day…"
Olivia saw Rafe slump back in the chair almost defeated that he wasn't included in that statement.
"And now they'll have you too. You are their brother Rafe, not by blood, but by choice. You do see how much more that means don't you? By blood there's no choice; my girls love you because that's what they've chosen to do."
Rafe had sat back up and couldn't help but smile.
"You know I've been trying to expand and franchise the Beacon. It's getting harder for me to move forward with the franchising plans and still manage the Beacon's day to day operations. What I need is a manager. So, here's my idea. I want to turn all of the daily operations over to your Ma and I want you to be our assistant. You'd manage both of our calendars, you'll learn which meetings we both need to be in on and coordinate our schedules, you'll learn everything you need to from your Ma on how to run this place, how to deal with the staff, guests, vendors, etc. You'll learn from the ground up. What do you think?"
"Really? You mean it?"
"I do Rafe. I had always envisioned doing this with Ava, but there are too many sad memories for her here in Springfield so for now it's best she stay away. Someday, when she's ready I hope she'll move back here and join you in running things."
"What about college?"
"Do you want to go? I just assumed with you asking about doing more that you had decided not to."
"I didn't graduate high school, but got my GED in prison. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go or if I could get in or not. A couple of weeks ago I went to Springfield U and talked with a counselor in the admissions office. She suggested I take their placement tests and go from there. I did and I passed and was accepted."
"Rafe that's great!" Said Olivia as she got up from her chair to sit next to Rafe.
Olivia gave him a gratulatory hug.
"When I was talking with the counselor I saw one of the majors that Springfield U offers is hotel management. For the job you want me to do would I still be able to go to college?"
"We'll make it work Rafe. We'll set your hours around your schedule and make sure you have enough time to study. Your Ma is going to be so happy when she hears about you going to college. When are you going to tell her?"
"Now that we've talked and settled things, tonight at supper."
"Alright, let's you and I put our heads together and get this all planned out."
They spent the rest of the afternoon laying out Natalia responsibilities as manager and Rafe's as their assistant. The ladies kept missing each other and did not lay eyes on each other until they got home. Natalia got home first and relieved Jane. Rafe wasn't too far behind her. He helped Emma with her homework while Natalia got started on dinner. It wasn't long before Olivia arrived home. She had just enough time to go change out of her business suit and she opted for shorts and a t-shirt.
Once the blessing was said and plates were served, Olivia decided it was time to spill about the management changes at the beacon.
"So, I've been realizing more and more lately that my goal for franchising the Beacon is really going to be a fulltime job. There's no way that I am going to be able to do what I want, still manage the Beacon and still have plenty of family time. So I have decided to hire a manager to take over my day to day responsibilities." Announced Olivia.
"A manager? So I'm not going to be your assistant anymore?" Questioned a hurt Natalia.
Olivia knew that Natalia's reaction was because Natalia assumed that Olivia would have discussed this with her. She hoped that her promoting Natalia to manager would correct that.
"No, I'm promoting you to manager." Said Olivia as she reached for the green beans being very nonchalant about things.
"Me, manager? I can't do that Olivia."
"Why not, you already do for the most part. Really the only thing that will need to be changed is that I'll need to add you as a signature for the Beacon's business accounts. Other than that you are already doing the job."
"I…are you sure? Wouldn't you want someone with a degree in management, with more experience?"
"Talia, you are perfect because you learned from me how I want my hotel run. You know it from the ground up. You are so much better at managing people than I am. Yeah, I can scare them into performing to the best of their abilities, but you somehow make them want to do their jobs and that is a talent that can't be taught in any classroom. I know you can do this. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities to do this."
"You really want me to do this, don't you?"
"I do. How about this…we try it out for three months and if you still aren't comfortable, then I look to hire someone from the outside. I really don't want to do that, because I know that you'll care for the Beacon just as much as I would. Someone from the outside, might not care as much."
"OK, I'll try."
"Good." Said Olivia as she leaned over to give her girlfriend a chaste kiss.
"Now that we have that settled; you're going to need an assistant. I've already hired someone."
"You were pretty confident I'd say yes to being the manager?"
"Yep, pretty much. Besides once you find out who your assistant is, well, it's a given that you would say yes."
"Oh really?"
"Yep."
"So just who is my new assistant?"
"Well, you'll actually be sharing them with me. They'll be times where you and I will need to be in on the same meetings, so it just make since for us to share an assistant; but you'll be teaching them the ropes so I can focus on franchising."
"OK, you still haven't told me who it is."
"Well, this person, they are green, so they'll be a clean slate. It's a college student who's majoring in hotel management. So they're schedule will need to coincide with their classes; but I think it's a win-win situation for everyone involved."
"Olivia, who?"
"Me!" Interjected Rafe.
"Rafe?" Natalia questioned.
The rest of the meal was spent with Rafe and Olivia telling her of his plans for a college education, his responsibilities at the Beacon as well as Natalia's. Olivia knew that Natalia would always be proud of her son, not matter his troubled past. She could see that emotion was slowly getting the better of her girlfriend. Once dinner was finished, Olivia said that she and Emma would clean up the kitchen. She told Natalia and Rafe to go on the front porch and have some mother/son time. The two Rivera's made their way through the house to the front porch.
"Raphael, when did you decided all of this?" Asked Natalia.
"I've been thinking about it for a while, just after I started at the Beacon." Replied Rafe.
He continued to fill in his Ma on how he came to the decisions that he did. He spoke of how he felt part of a real family and was loved, truly and unconditionally. She went on to tell him how proud she is of him for wanting to pursue a higher education. Natalia felt a shift inside herself, she was now beginning to see Rafe as a man. He was no longer her little boy. He was grown, making his own life decisions. She couldn't have been any prouder of her boy in this moment.
Olivia and Emma joined them outside after a while; then Rafe took Emma inside and up to bed. He waited for her to finish with her bath and then he read her a story as requested before he turned in himself.
The ladies remained on the bench on the front porch. It was a warm summer evening, luckily the mosquitoes were staying away. They weren't talking; they were just holding each other and being together. Until it was Natalia's quiet voice the broke the silence.
"Thank you." Said Natalia.
Olivia shifted to look into her love's eyes.
"For what?"
"For loving me, loving my son. For seeing more in me than I see in myself. I have everything I could ever want right here with you and our children." Said Natalia snuggling in closer to Olivia.
"It goes both ways, you know. You put up with me, my moods. You found a way into my heart and soul; you did the impossible Natalia. You saved me from myself." Replied Olivia.
Natalia had looked up from where she had laid her head on Olivia's shoulder. Olivia leaned forward to seal their declarations with a kiss. Finally given the lateness of the hour, the ladies headed back into their home and to their bedroom.
TBC…
