Chapter 44. Thanksgiving
Elliot stood on the back balcony of the lake house, watching the sun set over the water and completely lost in thought. It had been almost 5 days since he was last with Olivia and despite the fact they talked every day, numerous times a day, he still missed her like crazy. It was a strange feeling to him, to miss someone quite as much as he missed Olivia right now. He'd never felt like this for anyone else he'd ever been with, even when he was with Kathy before they were married, he never missed her this much if they were apart. In fact, Elliot and Kathy would spend time apart quite often and he never felt this much yearning for her. There was just something so perfect about the way that things were when he was with Olivia. Elliot hated that they weren't together this holiday, he was still in New York and she was in North Carolina. Elliot was surrounded by family, which he loved, but part of him still felt empty over the fact Chloe and Olivia were missing.
E: Miss you Elliot quickly texted Olivia. He knew she wasn't going to respond as he knew she was busy but he had to tell her that he was thinking about her and he missed her. Olivia was going out to dinner tonight with some old friends and Elliot knew that meant she as busy and he didn't expect to hear back from her, he just wanted her to know.
"What are you doing out here all alone like this?" Edward asked as he arrived next to his brother. Edward and Elliot were really close and Elliot could admit that he confided in his brother more than any of his other siblings. Though he put that down to the fact that they were twins.
"Just needed some air, and time to think" Elliot responded.
"Thinking about Olivia?" Edward continued to ask and Elliot knew that his brother had the ability to read him like a book, the way that he could read Olivia like one.
"I'm that predictable?" Elliot asked.
"To me, yes. But then again, we are twins and I can read you like a book" Edward remarked to which Elliot just smiled at the witty remark.
"You know something about is different every time you talk about her. I've never seen you talk about anyone else in this way. She's really changing you and I hope that I get a chance to meet her someday soon"
"There's just something so different about her. She makes me want to be a better man, a better dad and a better person. She makes me want to be a proper father to her daughter, not just some man they see often, and she makes me want more children, with her"
"Geez, you really have it serious then" Edward teased.
"More serious then I think I've been about anything in my entire life"
"So, why isn't she here with us?" Edward asked and Elliot took a deep breath. He knew why and he didn't think of Olivia any less for it but man he still wished that she had been able to come.
"She had to go home for the holiday, she wanted to be with her dad. She's an only child and she really didn't want him to be alone. But between you and me, honestly, for some reason mom doesn't let her come to family events? I don't know why she has it out for Olivia so much and seems intent on driving her away, but mom makes Olivia feel unwelcome" Elliot explained to his brother.
"Now, I very much doubt that you'd let that happen"
"I have had to fight for everything I have with Olivia, with mom. I will continue to fight too but I've already decided that if mom won't let Olivia come for Christmas then I simply won't be here either. The twins can come if they really want to, as I know they love spending time with all the cousins. But I want to spend Christmas with the woman I love, and not someone who is intent on driving her away"
"So mom's never said why she hates Olivia like this?" Edward queried, understanding his brother's motives but not wanting the situation to be that he didn't come to family things anymore.
"She's told me numerous times that she thinks Olivia is only interested in being with me because of my money. She's also made it clear that if it's not the money, then it's the publicity and mom is trying to fight off Olivia because she thinks that Olivia doesn't actually love me and she's going to end up hurting the twins and I" Elliot confessed, thinking about all the times that his mother had told him that Olivia didn't really love him, though he knew she did and she loved him very deeply.
"And she's told you that Olivia isn't welcome at family events like this?" Edward continued to question.
"Not to me direction, but she's really made Olivia feel like she's not welcome, whenever we're together. But I know how much Olivia really does love me and I know she's not going to let mom ruin what we have. I just wish mom would be more welcoming to her and actually start to get to know her. Olivia is an incredible woman and I want everyone to see that and accept the love we have" Elliot explained, confessing everything to his closest brother.
"Well, from everything you've told me, I think Olivia sounds like the perfect woman for you and I know the kids must really love her, especially Lizzie. Lizzie has not shut up about Olivia at any chance she gets to talk about her. I just hope, that sometime in the near future, we'll all get to meet her" Edward remarked.
"I hope so too" Elliot agreed, checking his phone once more, hoping Olivia would have replied but knowing that she was busy.
Olivia was loving being home again, she was loving being back in the town she grew up in, with her favourite people. Most of all, she loved having her father close by again. The only thing that could possibly make her any happier, was if Elliot and the twins were here too. It felt weird not seeing any of them, when she'd gotten so used to seeing them almost every day. Regardless of the distance, Olivia still spoke with Elliot every day, and they facetimed with all the kids around when possible, which was lovely, but it wasn't the same. She couldn't be held by Elliot when she wanted comfort over the phone or facetime, the way she could when they were together. Elliot had been away before, and the distance really shouldn't be affecting her as much as it was, but this time was different. Olivia put the fact she was missing Elliot, down to that they weren't as close as they are now, when Elliot was doing all the travelling. She also had the twins around when Elliot was last away, whereas this time, she had been the one to get on the plane and she didn't have the twins or Elliot.
Tonight though, she was going out. She was heading out to dinner with some of her close friends, which she couldn't be more excited about. Don was going to look after Chloe and she was heading out with Alex, Rafael and Melinda. They were all Olivia's closest friends and whilst she had seen Alex recently, she hadn't seen Rafael and Melinda in a while, so she was excited to have the catch up and hear about their lives. Olivia couldn't call Elliot tonight, like they usually did, as she didn't know what time she'd be home – it wouldn't be too late, yet she wasn't sure what time he would go to bed tonight. She would make extra sure to talk with him tomorrow and hear about his day, as she did love hearing what he got up. Olivia knew Elliot couldn't be mad about this as he knew that she was going out, she had told him about it on their call yesterday and he'd told her that he hoped she had a good time. Olivia hoped that with the way things were going with Elliot, she could bring him back to her home town one day soon with her, and he would be able to meet everyone.
Alex, Rafael, Melinda and Olivia all sat in a booth at their favourite diner in town. Sandra, was an old friend of Olivia's and had been like an older sister since she was young. She absolutely loved when the group came in and Olivia really enjoyed catching up with her too.
"Olivia, it has been way too long since you were last back in town" Melinda started the conversation off.
"You realise, you guys can come and visit me once in a while too right? You don't always have to wait till I come home again?" Olivia remarked.
"Yeah, now she's dating that hotel millionaire she could get you free accommodation too" Alex teased which made Olivia just roll her eyes.
"How is that going?" Melinda asked, desperate to hear all about her friends new relationship.
"Really well thank you. His mother can't seem to stand me and make that distinctly obvious whenever I'm around but El-Elliot is pretty amazing and he has really great kids" Olivia smiled as she spoke about Elliot.
"Not where I thought that sentence was going" Alex remarked to which Olivia just glared at her, she had such a dirty mind at times.
"Tell me, how do you woo over a multi-millionaire like that? To the point that you have what you do with this Elliot?" Rafael asked, wanting to learn all the tricks of the trade.
"I don't know…it kinda just happened between us" Olivia replied, she often wondered how it all came to be between her and Elliot but she didn't regret any of it now.
"You really are in love" Melinda added which made Alex laugh, as she'd known this for a while.
"So, when are you bringing mr millionaire back in town? I want to meet this man who's clearly captured your heart" Sandra asked as she brought over the drinks for the group.
"I don't know, we've barely discussed what Christmas and New Year will be like, not to mention anything else" Olivia replied.
"Yet, your not even together for thanksgiving? Were plans made before you two became an item?" Melinda queried.
"No, well…not entirely. I wanted to come back to town for Dad, and so Chloe could see her grandfather as well as all of you. But Elliot also has a very family-based thanksgiving where I wasn't invited. Like I said before, his mother can't stand me and so I just wasn't invited" Olivia explained to the group and she heard Sandra scoff. Olivia didn't want to put Elliot in her bad books already but she couldn't care less about his mother.
"She told him, and he just accepted that? The man needs to grow a pair" Sandra remarked.
"No, well not entirely. She never said I couldn't come to him but she always makes it very clear that she doesn't like me, whenever I'm around which I really didn't want to have to deal with for the holidays. I didn't want to take Chloe into that kind of environment and there was no way in hell I would leave her for his family. So, Elliot and I agreed that we'd be apart for Thanksgiving, as I would never expect him to pick to come with me over seeing his family. He did drop me at the airport though and we speak every day. I know he's going to be right there when I get back" Olivia explained to which everyone in the group had to smile. They were so glad that after everything Olivia had been through, she'd finally found someone who seemed to be her 'Mr Right'.
"Well I say, you need to bring him back to town soon, so we can all meet him and make sure he's meeting our approval" Sandra remarked to the group.
"He does, I met him even before they were really together and the way that she speaks about him is so true to his character. Elliot is the kind of guy who would literally do anything for her or Chloe" Alex replied, coming to assist in description of Elliot.
"Alright, fill me in on things with you. I didn't come home to talk about my relationship the entire night out" Olivia requested to the group, trying to change the topic of conversation. She loved Elliot more than anything but she didn't feel comfortable talking just about him all night, when he wasn't here.
Olivia had really enjoyed her night out with her friends, they had all agreed that next time they caught up, should really be in New York but that would depend on exactly when. They also agreed that Olivia needed to try and bring Elliot home with her the next time she came back so they could all meet him. However, Alex knew that wouldn't be too much of a struggle for her, as she knew that on a much deeper level, Elliot simply adored Olivia. She was really looking forward to the thanksgiving feast today though. Don had invited a range of different people from town over for the thanksgiving meal and everyone was bringing something, so it would be kind of like a pot luck celebration. Don had included a number of the boys who worked on his farm too, as a way of properly thanking them for all their hard work. Olivia knew it would be a big day and she was looking forward to it all. But after today, she really only had 3 days left before she flew back to New York and that was getting so much closer.
O: Good morning! Happy Thanksgiving! Olivia texted Elliot as she stood on her father's back porch, overlooking the farm and drinking her morning coffee.
E: Good morning, happy thanksgiving to you too beautiful 3 Hope you had a good time last night? Elliot almost instantly responded. She didn't think he'd be awake just yet as it was still quite early, but she was wrong.
O: It was lovely catching up with everyone again. Alex says to say hello and everyone says that next time I come home, you should come with me xxx
E: Sounds like you have some smart friends there, and I'm on board for that. What are you plans today? Elliot asked, almost as if he'd read her mind as Olivia had been thinking of asking that same exact question. Whilst they were planning on having the thanksgiving feast for lunch and left overs if they wanted anything for dinner. Elliot's family may be different and have their big meal for dinner.
O: Well, we're going to have a thanksgiving meal at lunchtime, as it allows more people to come and be able to stay a while afterwards. But apart from that, just preparing for the meal and tidying up after. What about you? Are you a lunch or dinner type of family? Olivia asked, hoping they were a lunch meal family too so there would be free time for both of them later. But she suspected they might in fact be a dinner kind of meal, with his mother.
E: It's thanksgiving dinner for us but we're just having a typical family focused type of day. I'd love to face time with you later though? Before bed?
O: Sounds like a plan, now I better go but give your beautiful kids a big hug for me and I look forwards to talking with you later. I love you xx
E: I love you too and I hope you have a good day baby xx Elliot replied before Olivia put her phone away and moved inside as Chloe had just started to stir.
Edward was on a mission, he didn't care that it was thanksgiving or that this probably wasn't the best time for this conversation. But he was determined to get to the bottom of things. He wanted to get to the bottom of why his mother was so against Elliot's relationship with Olivia. He wanted to know, why his mother wouldn't let Olivia come to family functions or events and desperate to ruin Elliot's relationship. Edward was determined that he was going to take one for the family and get to the bottom of this whole issue, as he wanted Elliot to come for Christmas and he wanted to meet the woman who had won him over so easily. He had the decency to not approach the matter infront of everyone at the thanksgiving table, but when the family went out to the beach to watch the stars and he was home with the youngest ones who were already in bed and his mother – it was the perfect opportunity.
"Did they all get down ok?" Bernie asked as she saw Edward walk into the sitting room where she was currently seated.
"Arthur and Danielle aren't quite asleep just yet but Daisy was out like a light" Edward replied as he took a seat across from his mother.
"Nice of you to stay back with them all? I could of managed" Bernie thanked her son.
"Arthur has been really fussy lately and so Maria and I agreed that it was probably best I stay back to make sure he goes down" Edward explained, they had been having some real difficulty with his son lately.
"What's the story behind you not liking Olivia?" Edward asked after the pair had sat in silence for a couple of minutes.
"I…Who told that I don't like her?" Bernie asked, trying to play it down like she had no idea what he was talking about and it wasn't a big deal.
"Not important, why are you not letting your son bring the one person he really wants at these events, to them?" Edward continued to question.
"I never stopped Elliot from doing anything, he's an adult and I can't stop him from doing anything" Bernie continued to deny the accusations.
"You make Olivia feel like she's not welcome, so she doesn't come and that hurts Elliot, can't you see that?"
"I…I don't think she's really a good fit for this family"
"Why?"
"Your brother holds a really high position in life now, he is a very wealthy man with lots of great potential suitors. I don't believe that Olivia is really interested in him for the right reasons. Did he tell you that she's Elizabeth's classroom teacher? I know how much she makes and believe me, it's really not much" Bernie explained.
"You had her investigated?" Edward exclaimed, shocked to hear these words coming out of his mother's mouth right this moment. He was glad that he was the one prodding for questions as Elliot would surely lose it at these comments.
"I did it for the best intentions, I need to protect Elliot against another heartbreak" Bernie tried to explain.
"He's in love with her!"
"He was in love with Kathy, look how that turned out. Elizabeth and Richard cannot go through another of their father's heartbreaks. He has just started to become more involved with them again and I don't want that to be ruined. He tells us he's in love with Olivia now, but something is going to happen and she'll go running – then he'll be heartbroken again. She's really only in love with him for the money"
"And how exactly do you know that?"
"Edward, honey you haven't met the woman, you haven't had the interactions that I have with her. They may be in love now, but they're really still in the 'honeymoon phase' of the relationship and when life gets real, he'll see that she can't cope. It's better for the family, better for him, that I protect you all from her and Elliot's heartbreak whilst I can. I've never told her she can't come to these gatherings, but if she doesn't feel like she's welcome then that's not exactly a bad thing" Bernie justified her actions.
"You realise, you keep this up and he has to choose between you and her, he'll choose her" Edward stated, making things exceptionally clear to his mother.
"I don't believe he will" Bernie rejected her son's remarks. She knew that Elliot was obsessed with this woman now, but she didn't believe that there would be serious issues with that in the future. Olivia was like a new toy for Elliot and he'd grow old of her soon, they'd break up and that would be that. Whilst the twins might play victim due to their love for this woman that was something everything would have to accept.
"You haven't properly talked to him in a while then, he has expressed to me, that he feels for Olivia, more than he has ever felt for anyone else in his entire life. He already old me that if you won't openly welcome Olivia for Christmas and she wants to go to her family, then he'll go with her" Edward expressed
"He wouldn't be away from his kids for Christmas, even she wouldn't allow him to be away from them" Bernie replied.
"So, they'll go too. Elizabeth simply adores this woman and I can see Richard already loves her too. They've been through so much but I can tell they see her as a mother figure, seeing as their mother walked out. I believe that given the chance they would want to be with Olivia and their father for Christmas, so I doubt they'd come here without him. Mother, you need to accept, that Olivia is sticking around, and she could well become part of the family in the future. I have a belief that the way Elliot is talking about her, he wants to marry her one day and then she will be part of the family. Is she really work losing a son over?" Edward asked before he got up and left the room. He wanted to keep his composure and had a few things he needed to get done before the others came back. Bernie didn't like this conversation and she wasn't going to change her mind, she wasn't convinced that Olivia was good for the family but she really didn't want to lose Elliot. She would have to play nice, for now.
A/N: Well Edward definitely took one for the team, that interrogation of Bernie was quite something. Yet do we really believe she's going to play nice? I've been on a bit of a writing blitz over the past week (believe it or not I've almost written to the end of this story). However, it's always the editing that gets me on time management and i go back to work next week. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, leave me a review and let me know what you think! Next chapter: Olivia returns to New York and preparation begins for the case with Dani.
Until Next Time ;)
