Chapter 35
They went home Tuesday. Amanda stayed the entire time and was going to miss the rest of the week too. Peter came out with Noah, "Shhh! She's finally sleeping. Are you busy?" Amanda shook her head, "No I did all my school work for the week." Amanda was so focused, it was scary sometimes because she didn't fail at things often. Everything came easy, academics, friends, sports. She was a great kid. "How about you go sit quietly on the bed and hold your brother while I cook dinner." She shut her chrome book. "Amanda, you are missing school and games this week. Baby you will go back to school next week. Ok?" Amanda sat carefully on the bed and Peter handed her Noah. Peter held his finger up to his lips.
After an hour Olivia turned over moaning, "Hi Mom! Are you still hurting?" Olivia smiled at her two babies, "No I'm not hurting, it was just a nice nap. Is he awake?" Amanda laughed, "Yeah and probably hungry." Olivia started feeding him. They enjoyed spending the week together and getting used to Noah.
Lucy was a huge help and she explained the situation to her professors. They actually offered her the work online and told her about their online courses for early education. She really only needed some hours at a local daycare, near Peter and Olivia's home. She was able to stay home with Liv and Noah.
The school year was flying by, Kat and Amanda's basketball team won the State Championship. Colleges were seriously looking at both of them. Spring break week was the best, because it was the last week Olivia was on maternity leave. Amanda spent the entire week with them. It was a lot of tummy time, feeding, changing, and kissing. "Mom he's getting so big so fast." Olivia smiled at how good Amanda was with him. She planned a special day of summer shopping just for her and Amanda.
The rest of the year went by without any trouble. Amanda and Dominick were rising Juniors. Kat and Darius would be heading into their Senior year. Amanda asked them, "Guys it's kinda sad. We only have one more year together, then you two leave us." No one really thought about that. Kat said, "It doesn't matter, we'll scope out the college scene for you and as Seniors you will come to the best college parties ever."
Summer was here! The boys were working Monday-Wednesday and the girls were helping take care of Noah, participating in a basketball camp, and swimming at the sports club. On Thursday everyone went to Central Park. Lucy and Amanda packed up Noah's stroller and bag. It wasn't going to be a really hot day, so that was good. They found a nice spot in the grass, near a playground where Noah could swing in the baby section. Lucy packed lunches to enjoy.
Darius loved art, it was his thing. Dominick and Darius wanted to be lawyers and Peter's friend was really helping them out. Darius planned on majoring in Law and minoring in Art once he went to college. With the extra class load, Dominick would be able to catch up and they were planning on trying to graduate together, then head off to law school.
Darius brought his camera to the Park. While looking around, taking pictures, and goofing off they found a scenic spot called "The Pool". He got some really great pictures. "Guys some night photos would be awesome!" Kat said, "Let's do it! It's summer and Melinda, Liv, and Fin are on this case, they are working tonight, I already heard. You guys just say you're staying with each other, Amanda, you say you're staying with me. Then we come back to the park tonight, get the shots, and everyone just comes back to Melinda's. Sleepover!"
Amanda hated lying, "Kat why lie, how come we can't just ask." They all looked at Amanda like she was crazy, "Yeah Amanda they will let us do that, no problem." That was Amanda's point, they shouldn't be doing it. Kat went with Amanda to see Peter and pack her bag, she didn't want her screwing up. "Dad, I'm staying with Kat tonight, since Melinda and Fin are working. We want to have a scary movie night and will be up late. This way we don't bother Noah." Peter rocked Noah to sleep, "Ok if you need me call."
Peter didn't have a problem with that, they were just down the hall. "You better be glad that wasn't Liv, she knows when I'm lying." Kat laughed, "Oh I know and if she questions you, we'll still get busted." They met the boys downstairs, and headed to eat until the sun set. The sun was going down when they got to the park, Darius got some cool shots. Amanda got some too with her latest iPhone. When it got really dark, the Park got scary, "Guys I'm ready to go." Amanda didn't like it at all.
They all headed to Melinda's around midnight. They got the surprise of a lifetime when they walked in. "Kat I thought you left the light on?" Kat was confused, "Oh she did!" They all froze when the lights came on. Liv, Peter, Melinda, Fin, Darius, and Dominick's moms were sitting on the couch. They lined us up and demanded answers. Fin went for the weakest link, "Amanda explain to us why you all are walking in the door after midnight, like y'all are grown?" Amanda swallowed, and proceeded to tell the entire story and who said what. She named names and everything. Every parent grabbed their kid and said, "You all won't see or talk to each other for two weeks."
Peter, Olivia, and Amanda walked in the house and the minute the door shut, Peter yelled, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING! YOU LOOKED ME RIGHT IN THE EYE AND LIED! I WON'T EVER TRUST YOU AGAIN!" Olivia was shocked she had never seen Peter act like that, not even the "bikini cruise situation" was this bad. Amanda put her hands over her face and cried. She mumbled something that neither of them could make out and Olivia said, "Come here baby." Peter yelled again, "NO LIV! ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU WILL NOT HUG HER BECAUSE SHE'S CRYING!" Olivia had enough, "Amanda go to your room and I will be there in a minute. Amanda cried, "Are you...going to...punish…me?" Peter laughed, "THAT'S THE PROBLEM, SHE STOPPED TEARING YOUR ASS UP!" Olivia couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing, she told Amanda to go.
She turned her attention to her husband. "I know you're mad, but you will not yell at her like that and you definitely will never tell me when I can show affection to my children. You have exactly five minutes to get your fucking shit together and if you can't do that, then actually get your fucking shit together and go."
With that Olivia turned to go to Amanda. "Baby you know why he's upset right?" Amanda started to calm down, "I knew it was wrong, but I never want to tell no." Amanda you are very smart and you need to learn that when it's not right, you try to do the right thing. Maybe if you had said no, they wouldn't have gone at all and so what if they did, you still did the wrong thing. Amanda, he didn't mean anything that he just said, you scared him." Go take your shower, I'm going to talk to him, and you go to bed. I will check on you before I go to sleep ok?" Amanda shook her head and went into the bathroom.
Olivia went out and found Peter sitting on the couch, with his elbows on his knees and his hands covering his face. "Are you done and ready to talk like a normal person? Actually are you ready to listen?" Peter sat up with tears streaming and his whole face was red, "This can't happen again. Do you know how many more times she's gonna pull shit like she did tonight? How many times Noah will do it? Peter she's a super sensitive kid, who makes piss poor decisions sometimes, but she's a good kid."
Peter didn't say anything, but he shook his head because he agreed. "I will not raise my kids with you, with that temper. Will I ever yell yeah of course. Peter we all lose it sometimes, but that was way over the top." Olivia took a deep breath, "What's going on? You are always in her corner, protecting her from my punishments. What aren't you telling me?"
Peter cried, "I was so wrong, I can't even face her. I see my sister in her Liv. I can't lose her because of these stupid little things. My sister did stuff like this until she…" Olivia moved beside him and put her arm around him, "Babe she's not your sister, but I totally get it. Maybe you should tell what happened and why you reacted this way. Explain the dangers out there, but you can't ever talk to her like that again." Peter hugged her, "Baby I'm sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" Olivia sighed, "I guess I can do that." Olivia smiled, but Peter looked sad, "Will she forgive me?" Olivia laughed, "Babe it's Amanda. I popped her with a belt, still had the belt in my hand, and she still hugged me." Olivia winked, "I think you're good." They went to check on her and she was knocked out. They both kissed her on the forehead, "Night baby."
They both went in late the next day and had breakfast with Amanda. "Baby, take your shower your dad and I want to talk to you." Peter was finishing breakfast when she sat down, "Good morning!" Peter turned around and handed her a plate of blueberry pancakes, "My apology breakfast for you." Amanda smiled, "Don't smile too much you're still in trouble." Amanda straightened up, "Yes sir."
They ate and Peter explained his growing up, life, and losing his sister. "Amanda that's why you mean so much to me." Amanda hung her head, "I already knew." They both looked at her, "I mean I didn't know the things I was doing was scaring you or I wouldn't have done it. I meant I knew about your sister." Olivia forgot, "Babe that's when she first came to stay with us, we didn't have eavesdropping under control yet." They all laughed and enjoyed their breakfast. Peter and Olivia left for work, "Behave today please." Amanda sat with Lucy and Noah, "That shouldn't be hard, I'm grounded."
Two weeks went by and they finally got to see each other. It was Friday and around lunchtime and they were all hanging out at Liv and Peter's. "Amanda, Noah only has three diapers left. Can you walk to the store while I finish making lunch?" Amanda looked at the gang, "Sure Lucy. Guys will you come with me?"
They all walked to the store, got the diapers, and even picked up snacks. Kat and Amanda were outside waiting, they saw the boys paying for their stuff. A car pulled up and a tall built guy got out. He had buzz cut with dark brown hair. He flashed a NYPD badge and the boys saw it, but didn't think anything about it. "Fin sent me for y'all, Liv's in trouble." Kat ran to the store window, knocked, and gave the boys a I'll call you sign. She climbed in the back seat. "Amanda, get in the car." Something wasn't right, "Kat, get out of the car, neither Fin or Liv would send him. I don't know you." The boys dropped the stuff, but it all happened too fast. The guy hit Amanda and threw her on top of Kat.
They boys just weren't fast enough. They only saw the first letter of the plate and only that it was a Ford. "Fuck!" Dominick called Liv and Darius called Peter. He got Liv, but not Peter. "Liv we went to the store and some guy took them. He flashed a badge he was a cop." Liv didn't quite understand what was going on. "Dominick, slow down and tell me what's going on. Dominick calmed down and when she finally understood what he was saying, she sent the squad immediately.
They were at the store very fast and Cragen told Liv she had to stand down, "No way!" Peter rushed to the scene as soon as he got word. He was able to get Liv back to the house. Nick and Fin took the statement. "Please! Amanda must be hurt. Didn't you see the blood?" Darius explained the guy flashed a badge and Kat got in the car. We knew something was wrong when Amanda refused."
Kat sat in the backseat holding Amanda's head, "She needs help and stitches." The guy told her to shut up. They drove for hours, Kat held pressure to stop the bleeding, but it was an open cut. They pulled up at a cabin. He picked Amanda up like a rag doll and made Kat get out. A lady stood at the open door, she had blonde hair and a lot of makeup. "I told you to do one thing." Kat listened because she didn't know what was going on. She looked at Kat up and down and Kat couldn't help her mouth, "Is there a problem bitch?" Before Kat knew what happened, the lady slapped her so hard it knocked her out.