Contretemps

Chapter Nine

Saturday

11:14 p.m.

Olivia sat back on her pillow, staring at the ceiling. She had asked her wife to stop. She had told her what time it was and how she and her brother could talk the next morning. But Alex hadn't listened.

She was up and out before the brunette could stop her.

What would happen now?

She partially understood why Jonathan and his mother, and only Jonathan and his mother, were discussing her wishes. Alex had been subconsciously high-strung over the past few days. It hadn't been outwardly, but it had been there.

She was worried about her mother, still, which was understandable. What had happened to Cathy wasn't something to be taken lightly or to be thought of as something that would just go away.

Olivia knew about strokes. She had attended a workshop a few years ago through Haven House that dealt with the after effects of a first stroke and what could happen after that initial experience.

Still, she knew everyone needed to remain positive.

If she discussed with her wife how second strokes were possible and usually didn't have the best outcome, Alex would be even more on edge. Even more sensitive.

And so, she had kept that aspect to herself.

After all, Alex was one of the most intelligent people she knew. She was always up on the latest health advice and regimens, up on all of the best foods and antioxidants that one should take to keep a healthy, lengthy lifestyle. She was always reading, whether it be articles, books, publications by doctors and universities. That was just who the blonde was. Informed. Educated. Aware.

But this was her mother. This was her brother. They were talking without her present. And Olivia understood the rift that this caused.

She took a deep breath and swept her own covers aside, placing her feet on the floor.

She would be awake. Be there for Alex in whatever way she needed.

She stood, looking down at her black chemise and then moved to the foot bench to retrieve her gray, jersey robe, swinging it onto her body and loosely tying the ties.

She moved to the doorway and crept out slowly.

"W-what is it, Allie? Everything OK?" Jonathan was startled from sleep, immediately sitting up. "Is it Mom?" He rubbed his eyes and looked at her.

"Mom is fine. I need to talk to you. Upstairs. Five minutes." Alex turned then and moved out of the room, down the hallway, and up the stairs in a rush.

Reaching the last step, she began to slow down, thinking.

Was she going about this all wrong? Should she have waited like Olivia asked her to?

Regardless, this was happening right now, whether anyone liked it or not.

She moved to the cabinet and retrieved a glass before stepping to the refrigerator and getting the Brita pitcher from it, pouring herself a glass. Opting on the kind and polite side, she got another glass and poured her brother one, as well, before moving to the kitchen table and setting both glasses down. She pulled the chair out at the head, the blinds now drawn to the view of the ocean for evening, and sat, waiting.

Shuffling was heard now, her brother's big, bare feet, as he entered. She looked at him, watching him, expecting him to know exactly why she had woken him up at such an hour.

He moved to the table and sat to her left, looking at her, bewildered. "What's going on?"

Alex took a sip of water and set it down. "You and Mom...you had some discussions today?" Her eyes went to her brother.

"Allie…"

"Allie, what?" She continued to watch him. "Don't you think I should have been in on that, too?"

"You know all of it. Mom was just reiterating what she and Dad put in their will before he died. It's all the same as it was back then."

Alex felt a huge lump form in her throat. "Regardless...I should have been there…don't patronize me, Johnny." She felt her eyes fill with tears now, her emotions coming full force.

He placed a hand on her left hand and she pulled it away, wrapping it around her water glass with her other.

"What is it you don't trust me with?" Alex sniffed before swatting away the tears.

"Allie…" He sat back in his chair now, slumped and eyeing her. "We just thought you might get…overly…"

Noise was heard behind them now and the two adults turned to find Isabel and Grace entering.

Isabel was holding her sister by the waist. "Grace…"

"What is it, Baby?" Alex perked up.

"Grace has…" Isabel looked at Jonathan and then back at her mother, "...cramps. Do you or Mama have any Advil?"

Alex smiled, her emotional mood not having yet subsided. "Yeah, Gracie. Go ask your Mama. She brought some."

The two nodded and then Isabel held her gaze. "Are you OK, Mom?"

Alex smiled. "I'm fine, my love. Go ask your Mama. Uncle Johnny and I are just having a chat."

Isabel nodded again and the two made their way out of the room and out of sight.

Alex turned back to her brother. "What was discussed?"

"The same, Allie. All the grand kids, us...it's the same that Dad put in his will. Mom just wants to make sure it's all still in place."

"For what?" Alex swallowed hard then before bringing her glass to her lips and taking a few gulps. She set her glass down.

"Allie...you know for what…"

"Is she…" Alex gasped, "...does she think she's gonna die, Johnny?" Alex heard the quaver in her own voice, felt her palms become slick with sweat against her glass.

"I don't know, Allie. I really don't."

Alex closed her eyes and took a deep breath, lifting her chin to the ceiling. "She must know...feel something…" Alex opened her eyes and returned her gaze to her brother.

His face held the same grief she was probably portraying which made her eyes tear further.

Slight movement now, behind them.

"Did you ask your…" Alex began, thinking she would find her daughter, before finding her wife standing there.

Olivia stood, knee-length, gray jersey robe on, her hair down and wavy, wild from sleep.

Alex only smiled at her. "Hey, Babe."

Olivia stepped closer. "I didn't want to cause any problems...when I overheard, but…" she stepped even closer now, "...I just want to be here for you…" she looked at her brother-in-law, "...both of you."

Alex could see her wife's eyes were tearing, her lower lip trembling, even from the distance that she was standing. The blonde stood now and moved toward Olivia. The two embraced and Alex could feel the brunette shaking against her. She rubbed her back slowly and turned her face into her ear. "I know, Babe."

They pulled away and Olivia looked up at Jonathan before a smile filled her face.

Brother and sister-in-law hugged, as well, and Alex took a step back, just watching them.

Jonathan was like a brother to her wife. He had always been that steadfast character in her life.

They pulled away and Olivia looked at Alex, taking a deep breath and smiling.

"Well, since Theo took Gwinnie's room and she's sleeping with Mom…" he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Jesus, Johnny," Alex smirked. "Mom is all about Daddy, and always has been…"

"I'm just saying…" Jonathan added.

Alex looked back at her wife.

"You ready to go to bed?" Olivia raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, Babe." Alex looked at her brother and then they moved toward each other, hugging, the blonde speaking over his shoulder. "Good night, big bro…" they pulled away, "...thanks for talking with me."

He held her upper arms. "Of course, Allie. Nothing was hidden. You know everything, little sis."

Alex nodded and looked at her wife again, the brunette holding out her hand. She took it and they moved out of the room and toward the staircase, Alex feeling a certain quasi-satisfaction from the conversation that she and her brother had just had.

They removed their robes and climbed into bed, Alex immediately moving into the brunette and resting her head on her breast. Olivia wrapped her arm around her and kissed her temple.

"What can I do to make you feel better?" the brunette asked.

"Just…" Alex began, "...just be here, Liv. That's all."

Olivia began stroking her wife's back with her fingertips, slow, measured.

Alex gripped her tighter and then turned her face to kiss her neck.

"Nothing else? I can help you release some stress?" Olivia smiled.

"I'm too tired, Babe. Emotionally, physically…" Alex raised herself up slightly. "Do you want something?"

Olivia smiled again before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. "With you? Always. But I just want to be here and see you happy."

Alex rested her upper body against her once more. "Maybe...maybe when we're back to normal, Babe. Maybe when we get home. Monday?"

Olivia smiled again. "Maybe then…"

They both relaxed now, their bodies syncing to the other and falling into a restful, peaceful slumber.

A/N: Thanks for reading. These next few chapters will be difficult, but some of you anticipated that. Thank you for reviewing, even if it's just a couple of words. It means so much.