Previous Disclaimers Apply
Chapter 51
Later that evening after everyone had turned in for the night Natalia was in bed, laying on her side being spooned by her wife. She hadn't fallen asleep yet, as she was still in shock from her mother's visit. Olivia had not broached the subject; she knew in time when her wife was ready to talk and ask for her opinion she would. Natalia reached behind her grabbing her wife's hand from where it lay on her hip, pulling it down across their baby boys thus pulling her wife tighter against her body. She wanted to feel protected, safe and cocooned by her wife. The ladies lay there in silence; the only sounds coming from their farmhouse settling.
"I want to forgive her." Said Natalia breaking the silence.
As Natalia rolled onto her back Olivia shifted away then back against her wife.
"But so much time has passed." Added Natalia.
Olivia knew that her wife was asking for her opinion, even though she didn't come right out and ask.
"This has to be your decision, but I'll just say one thing, whether or not you consider it in your decision. You have something I'll never have, a second chance with your mother. Mine's gone, I'll never know what would have happened between the two of us. I'll never know that if she were in my life today, would she have accepted my loving you, our family. You have a chance to rebuild your relationship with your mother. Since she is here now asking for forgiveness, that leads me to believe that she accept you for who you are and our family. You have the chance to have your mother back in your life; to give our kids something that they've never had, a grandmother. But if deep down you can't get passed all of the years of hurt, that's fine too. I just want you to really think long and hard before you make a decision, one that you might regret someday."
Natalia didn't respond.
"Are you comfortable like that? I'm mean for trying to fall asleep?" Asked Olivia.
"Probably." Replied Natalia softly.
Olivia scooted closer to her wife and settled on her side next to her very pregnant wife. She then laid her head just above her wife's left breast and laid her arm across the top of her wife stomach as if to protect their unborn sons. She let out a contented sigh and kissed her wife's pulse point.
"I love you." Said Olivia.
"I love you too. Replied Natalia.
"Sleep baby, sleep." Were the last words that Olivia spoke that night.
Natalia wasn't sure how long she laid awake. Her mind drifted over her entire life from her earliest memories to that fateful night when she was banished from her home with one suitcase of clothes and two hundred dollars. She recalled her pregnancy with Rafe, those first few years working two and three jobs just to survive. Then she felt like she had been kicked in the gut when she was told of Rafe diabetes diagnosis. From that point on, she live her life for her son. It was only when he wasn't there, when he was in prison that she began to live her life for herself. And now, now she has everything she had ever dreamt of; a loving family, a wife, children and more on the way, stable income. She knew that she was more secure in who she is and the choices she had made for herself and Rafe.
Rafe…That was the one thing she wasn't sure of; his reaction to his grandmother reaching out to them. Rafe had a temper, especially when it came to his Ma and the possibly of someone hurting her. She debated on whether to tell him of her visit and finally decided against at least until she had spoken to her mother again.
It was after 1am when Natalia drifted off to sleep albeit a restless sleep. The next morning, Olivia slid quietly from bed and headed downstairs to make breakfast and see Emma and Rafe off. Rafe was the first to join her in the kitchen.
"Morning. Ma still asleep?" Asked Rafe.
"Yes, she had a hard time falling asleep last night. I think it was from the excitement of the party and all. So I figured I'd let her sleep in."
"Yeah. Sleep is good for her now right?"
"Yep, lots of rest."
"Would you finish these up while I go check on Emma?" Asked Olivia.
"Sure." Replied Rafe as he made his way to the stove to finish the eggs.
He had just finished plating everyone's dish when Olivia and Emma came into the kitchen.
"Morning Munchkin." Said Rafe.
"Orange or apple juice this morning?" Asked Rafe as Emma scrubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Apple, please." Replied the little girl.
The group sat down at the table and enjoyed their breakfast.
"Is Ma coming down?" Asked Emma with a mouth full of eggs.
"JellyBean…" Replied Olivia in a scolding tone for Emma eating with food in her mouth.
Emma looked sheepishly at her mother and quickly swallowed down the food and then repeated her question.
"She's sleeping in this morning. Yesterday took a lot out of her."
That answer seemed to satisfy the little girl. Rafe offered to walk Emma to the school bus and make sure she got on while Olivia cleaned up the kitchen. Olivia said good bye to her little girl and Rafe as they left. Before she got started on the dishes she decided to make something special for her wife.
She pulled out the flour, sugar and other baking ingredients and then rummaged around in the freezer pulling out a package of fresh frozen blueberries. She proceeded to make blueberry muffins one of her wife's favorites. While they were baking, Olivia put the teapot on to boil and quickly washed up all the dirty dishes. Soon she was ascending the stairs with a tray filled with muffins, fresh fruit and Natalia's favorite tea. When she pushed open their bedroom door she could see that Natalia was still asleep. Olivia set the tray on the dresser and went to wake her wife. Natalia was on her side facing the edge of the bed. Olivia had just enough room to sit on the edge of the bed. She reached to her wife's temple running her finger along the hairline so that she pulled Natalia's hair from her face draping it behind her ear. Olivia then leaned down and placed a kiss to her wife's cheek.
"Morning, honey. Time to get up." Said Olivia softly at her wife's ear.
Not that Natalia really heard what her wife said; it was the tickle of Olivia's breath at her ear that actually woke her up. As her eyes opened, she stretched and turned onto her back.
"Hey. What time is it?" Asked Natalia sleepily.
"Almost nine."
"Really, that late?"
"Yep, you must not have slept all that well. So I decided to let you sleep in. You need your rest for Beavis and Buthead." Said Olivia jokingly.
"Olivia! Ha, don't call them that!" Scolded Natalia.
"What, Starsky and Hutch?"
That was met with a disapproving stare as Natalia shifted to sit up in bed.
"Batman and Robin?"
"Butch and Sundance? No?"
"Smokey and Bandit? Come on, you gotta like that one?"
Natalia knew that her wife was trying to cheer her up and keep her mind off of the decision that she was wrestling with.
"Blues Brothers?"
"I'm running out of boy nicknames here." Joked Olivia.
"Mario and Luigi?"
At that, Natalia could no longer hold off the laughter and let several giggles out.
"OK, then, Mario and Luigi it is." Announced Olivia.
She leaned down to her wife's abdomen stroking it as she spoke.
"OK, Mario and Luigi, you need to go easy on your Ma. You guys are doing great and getting stronger every day. It won't be much longer, so hang in there, be good to each other and find something other than soccer to amuse yourselves, OK?" Said Olivia as she placed to kisses to her wife's stomach before moving up and capturing her wife's lips.
"I brought you breakfast in bed." Said Olivia as she pulled away.
"You did?" Clarified Natalia as Olivia got up from the bed and retrieved the tray of goodies.
Natalia shift further into the bed to allow her wife enough room to join her. Olivia flipped the legs out on the tray and set it across her wife's lap. The legs were fairly long so Natalia's very pregnant belly did not pose a problem. She then settled on the bed next to her wife.
"I have homemade blueberry muffins, some fresh fruit, your favorite tea, juice and my last cup of leaded coffee." Said Olivia.
"Looks yummy." Said Natalia as she broke off a piece of the muffin popping it into her mouth.
"I love your muffins and I love you too." Said Natalia stealing a kiss from her wife.
Natalia tasted the coffee while Olivia got blueberry muffins. The continued enjoying their meal. Natalia asked about the kids and what all was on Olivia's agenda for the day. Afterwards, Olivia helped Natalia shower and dress before getting ready herself. Olivia never once asked her wife of her decision. She knew that Natalia would tell her when she was ready; though it didn't matter, Olivia would support her either way.
Soon the ladies were in the car on their way into town. When their arrived at the Beacon, Olivia pulled up to the valet. He helped opened Olivia's door then rushed around to open Natalia's and help her out. As the ladies walked inside the valet took Olivia's car and parked it in her parking space and then returned to his post. Once inside, Natalia walked over to the elevators and pushed the call button. Olivia stopped off at the front desk for a quick check on things before joining her wife.
"Whatever you decide, I'm here for you." Said Olivia placing a chaste kiss to her wife's cheek as they rode in the elevator.
It didn't stop until it reached their intended floor. Olivia held the door open button to let her wife exit and then followed along behind. When they both were in front of the door, Natalia reached, hesitated slightly and then knocked three times in quick succession. Fairly quickly, the door opened.
"Natalia? Good morning. Olivia. Come in, please?" Said Mrs. Rivera.
TBC…
