188.

"Ma! MAMAMAMA!" Maggie was barefoot and covered in dirt from the small plot of the backyard garden Olivia set aside for the kids to plant flowers, and, someday, she hoped to start early enough so that they could grow vegetables to eat later in the summer.

Olivia leaned over the railing. "Yes, sweet girl?"

"C'MERE, Mama!" Maggie balled her fists at her sides and grinned proudly.

"Okay," Olivia replied, "Want Grandma and Sarah, too?"

"NO! Jus'Mama!"

Sarah feigned offense, crossed her arms, and huffed, "Fine" while Caroline patiently mumbled she could wait for when Maggie was ready to show off whatever it was she was showing off to the "common people."

Secretly flattered, Olivia bounded down the steps and broke into a huge grin. Noah and Wyatt were still arranging the decorative rocks they'd painted among the daisies and petunias, but, on top of four of the rocks sat the twins' sneakers, lights ablaze. Perplexed, Olivia asked how they were able to get the lights going given that they were activated by footsteps.

Noah had obviously been waiting for the question. "B'cauuuuuuse," he said in a sing-songy voice and lifted a shoe in the air, "We put DESE IN 'EM!" He dug out one of the small wind-up frogs the kids won at the arcade a few days ago. They hopped around inside the shoes and triggered the lights. "So we gotta garden, some artwork, and a light show!"

Wyatt took the shoe from Noah and replaced it on the rock. "It goes dere," he said, "You li'it Mama?"

"I love it!" Olivia gushed. "What a great idea! It looks so nice! And when it gets dark we'll be able to see the lights even more!"

Maggie skipped in circles around Olivia, "It get dar'in two hours?" She asked.

"More like seven hours."

"One, two, five, SEVEN!"

"Almost exactly like that." Olivia took a couple of steps back and continued to admire the garden. "Can Grandma and Sarah see now?"

"No!" Maggie said, "Daddy next!"

"Daddy's at the marina getting the boat cleaned up," Olivia said, "How about we let Grandma Caroline and Sarah get a little peek? They won't tell Daddy."

"Issa 'prise," Wyatt said softly.

"We'll keep it a surprise."

Noah stepped out of the flower bed. "Okay. They can see it now."

"Cover eyes!" Maggie ordered.

Sarah and Caroline covered their eyes and Noah and Wyatt led them from the porch to the yard. "Okay," Noah said, "One, two, three, OPEN!"

Maggie and Wyatt cheered as if they'd been the people to see the garden for the first time. They clapped their hands and danced around, spinning, and finally collided with each other. They stumbled in the direction of the stone retaining wall and Olivia reacted immediately to prevent them from toppling into it. Someday, they would hopefully learn to give one another a little space for celebration. Or maybe she preferred it this way...as long as they didn't crack their heads open on the way down.

"My God, you three are professional landscapers!" Caroline said, "Grandma's going to hire you to do her yard! How much do you charge?"

"Fi'dollars," Maggie said.

"No," Wyatt said, "For Grandma it's free 'cause she's Grandma."

"What about me?" Sarah said.

Noah screwed up his face. "You don't have a yard," he retorted.

Sarah groaned, "Ugh, Noey, nothing ever gets past you!"

"Dat's cause I'm Irish," Noah explained, "And da Irish are very clever."

"But I'm Irish, too."

"Hmmm," Noah shrugged, "I guess you're gettin' old."

Caroline doubled over and howled in throaty, raspy laughter until she started coughing. Olivia patted her on the back. "Are you okay?" She asked through her own giggles.

"I'm fine," Caroline said, her eyes filling with tears, "That boy…whoowee…" she coughed again, "I better get something to drink."

"C'mon!" Noah said, "Let's do Shirley Temples!"

"Well," Sarah said, "It's not five yet but that's never stopped us before." She grabbed the twins' hands. "C'mon, twinsies, it's cocktail hour. Do you want regular cherry juice or extra?"

"EXTRA!"

"ESSRA ESSSRA!"

"Extra cherry and vodka in mine," Caroline mumbled. She finally caught her breath and trailed the group with Olivia. "Ah, to be young again and joyful about anything and everything," she said, "Love seeing it."

"So do I," Olivia said. Caroline coughed again, and Olivia narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes dearie," Caroline touched the side of Olivia's face, "The sea air's clearing out the gunk." She met Olivia's eyes, emphasizing the answer, "Trust me. I'm fine."

…..

The kids had been bathed and fed an early dinner with the hopes they would go to bed at a normal hour for their trio of babysitters, but when Ed came downstairs and found everyone seated at the table he doubted the plan would actually come to fruition. Caroline was dealing the Uno cards and the twins were in their booster seats, ready to play. Ed seriously doubted they'd play properly, but he admired everyone for trying.

"Thanks again," he said. "Noah, Maggie, Wyatt...be good."

"Somehow you always sounded more threatening when we were young," Brooke said.

"I've loosened up a little," Ed muttered.

Olivia sauntered into the room. Noah noticed her first. He looked up from his cards, and, with an enchanted smile on his face, said, "Mommy! You look like a princess!"

Her hair was loosely swept back in a clip. Some strands hung at the side of her face and they were curled in loose waves. She'd gone light on the makeup brushing on only some mascara and eyeliner, and a shimmery plum lip gloss that made her tan skin pop. She was dressed simply in a flowy, lavender sundress and low-heeled beige sandals as if she wanted anyone who happened to look her way to pay closer attention to her accessories-the cluster of birthstone gems around her neck, teardrop earrings Ed had given her years ago, and, of course, her rings. At the beach she didn't often wear them, so the size and shimmer of the diamonds stood out even more than usual.

Ed walked over and kissed her gently on the cheek. "You absolutely do look like a princess," he whispered in her ear. His right hand automatically gravitated to her left and he gave her engagement ring a twist-it was a common move, subtly possessive and a tad boastful.

"Thank you," Olivia intoned. She, too, thanked the girls and Caroline and kissed the kids. She seemed eager to start the date, so the goodbyes were loving but quick and hurried to take Ed's arm. "Driving?"

"Yeah, we gotta drive."

"Okay."

Ed grew a little nervous, wondering if Olivia would detect the scent of cigarettes and how she would react when she did pick it up. She opened the door, and, sure enough, crinkled her nose. "Did your mom smoke on the way down?"

"Yeah," Ed replied sheepishly.

Shrugging it off, Olivia hopped into the passenger seat and was waiting with a kiss when Ed joined her in the car. "I'm glad it's just the two of us tonight," she said sweetly and suggestively.

"You're makin' me nervous," Ed replied.

Olivia grinned. "Still?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm flattered. Are you okay to drive?"

Ed ate up the teasing, "I'm good," he pressed the ignition button, "And I'm really sorry about the smoking. My mom, ya know, hard to wrangle her in when she has her mind set on something."

Olivia put her hand over Ed's, "The Tucker family relentlessness...for better or for worse."

"I like to think it's usually for the better."

"It is."

…

Ed's phone rang at exactly the wrong time and if the caller had not been his mother, he would have let it go to voicemail. He glanced at Olivia in the passenger seat and apologized. Sleepy from the medication they'd given her, she waved a hand in the air and told him to take the call. Bad karma to ignore your mother, she mumbled. Her left eye was swollen shut and her cheek was so ballooned the sight would have been comical had she not just endured an hours-long hostage standoff. She leaned against the cool window and stared at the people they passed-folks going about their normal routines, harried, hurried, and determined. Olivia wondered what it would be like to be part of the crowd, to be a person whose job did not sometimes require a take down move and a sniper.

Ed answered brightly. "Hey, Ma!"

"Eddie!"

Olivia slowly turned toward the raspy, urgent voice on the other side of the call. Ed's mother sounded like she was calling a wayward teenager, and she was intrigued.

"Yeees?"

"What the hell happened today in the old neighborhood? I saw you on the news but I missed most of it because I was next door helping Eleanor ice a birthday cake."

"A desperate trio tried to rob a family," Ed replied.

Olivia got the sense he consistently attempted to explain his job in the most basic terms possible and that his mother routinely resisted these efforts.

"What family? Why'd they choose that house? I know that house. It used to be the, no, wait, wrong block. Anyhow, why the hell were you there?"

"One of the guys worked for the owner," Ed explained. "People do irrational things for money."

"Why were you there?"

Ed again glanced at Olivia. She cracked a tiny smile.

"Helping a friend, Ma."

"Who?"

"Li-uh-Olivia. Benson. I've known her a while."

"Is she okay?"

"She's okay," Ed propped the phone on the console and reached over for Olivia's hand. He intended only to give her fingers a gentle squeeze, but she held on. "Or, she's gonna be," he added. "Listen, Ma, I have some things to wrap up at work. I'll call you back later tonight, alright?"

"Yes, yes, Eddie, take care of Olivia. I'll be here."

Ed swallowed hard. He felt Olivia's grip tighten and his entire body and mind filled with an obsession for exactly what his mother had said. Take. Care. Of. Olivia. Given her reaction, albeit silent, Olivia endorsed the plan, at least for the short term.

"I will, Ma," he said as much to his mother as to Olivia, said goodbye, and waited for the call to end on its own. Olivia did not say a word and she did not let go of his hand until Ed double-parked in front of her building. "Want to get out here and I'll find a spot?"

"I'm okay to walk," she said.

Interpreting her reply as code for "I don't want to be alone, not even for a few minutes," Ed nodded and continued on, finally finding a spot on the next block. He opened the car door for Olivia and adjusted the bulky, too-big parka he'd given her at the hospital.

"I don't have my keys," she said, "Hopefully the doorman recognizes me."

Ed patted her back. "He will."

She stopped in the middle of the street and looked at him. Even through the scrapes, bruises, and swelling, he could see the anguish in her face. Decompressing and unpacking those six or so hours would take months, perhaps years, and Ed sensed she was devastated she would have to start a recovery process all over again.

"Hey," He dared to hug her and kiss the side of her head while she was in his arms. "Let's just get upstairs, okay? That's all we need to do right now. Just go home." He felt Olivia nod and he let her go, but she held onto his arm as they walked.

"Just go home," she repeated in a whisper, over and over again, "Just go home."

When they entered her building, Ed made firm eye contact with the doorman and asked for the Lieutenant's spare keys. He handed them over without question, and Ed and Olivia proceeded to the elevator which was, fortunately, empty all the way to her floor.

Olivia examined herself in the reflection of the elevator's interior mechanical panel. She touched the worst of her wounds and winced.

"Just go home...just go home…just go home…"

…..

For their night out, Ed arranged for dinner reservations at the local country club which was typically off-limits to non-members. In the market one day last week he noticed a flyer advertising an open-to-the-public evening featuring a jazz quartet and a special menu prepared by a team of award-winning chefs. He immediately scanned the QR code and reserved their spot, and, when they were seated on a terrace overlooking the picturesque eighteenth hole and Olivia's face filled with serenity, he knew he'd made the right call.

"Do you mind if I go over there and get a picture of the sunset?" Olivia gestured toward a portion of the terrace that jutted out over the lower patio.

"Of course not," Ed replied with a smile. He watched her glide around the other tables and lean on the railing to get a panoramic shot of the landscape. Ed had played enough golf to know from a distance the quality of a course, and he could tell this one was extremely well cared for. Maybe he'd take the family to the driving range one day.

A server approached and interrupted Ed's daydream. "Sir? Welcome to the club! Can I get you something to drink?"

Ed picked up the cocktail menu and briefly skimmed it. He saw a few concoctions Olivia would like, but there were too many options for him to confidently decide. "I'll wait for my wife if ya don't mind," he said.

"No problem. I'll grab some ice water and be back in a couple of minutes."

"Thanks."

Olivia returned and proudly showed Ed the photos she'd snapped.

"Beautiful," Ed remarked. "We should have someone take our picture."

"Okay," Olivia grinned, "I'm sure the waiter will."

"He'll be back in a minute," Ed handed her the cocktail menu, "I was gonna order for you but then I changed my mind."

"You could have," Olivia smiled sweetly. "So many options…"

"Didn't know if…" Ed trailed off, a little unsure of what he was trying to say.

"If what?"

"I guess," he nervously refolded the napkin on his lap, "I'm not sure what the rules are anymore."

Olivia raised her eyebrows. "The rules?"

"You know, expectations, behavior, manners...everything on the news...it seems like everyday there's a new thing that used to be normal and allowed and now's taboo...am I wrong for teaching Noah and Wyatt to hold doors? To pay? To order for their dates?"

Olivia reached for one of his hands. "We are raising three very kind, good people," she said softly. "You teach them to be courteous, to do things like hold doors and pay not because they're men but because we want them to be respectful and generous according to our definitions of respect and generosity. And, as they get older, they'll learn and we'll teach them that not everyone wants or expects other people to act a certain way, and they'll have to listen and communicate with whoever they're with to make sure they're on the same page. Relationships are so complicated, but they don't have to be if there's communication and open minds...and hearts." She grinned, "And, for what it's worth, I would not have minded if you chose a drink for me."

"I was gonna go with the Old Fashioned."

"Excellent choice." Olivia kissed his fingers and let go of his hand.

"You're not just sayin' that?" Ed leaned forward, clearly angling for a kiss.

"No, I'm not," Olivia whispered before pressing her lips to his. "I love you, Ed."

"I love you."

The band began playing, and before the server visited for the second time, Ed asked another question. "Want to dance a little later?"

"Of course I do," she replied.

"Are we ready for that drink order?" The server appeared seemingly out of nowhere and asked.

"Yes," Ed picked up the cocktail menu again. "My wife will have an Old Fashioned and I'll take a Manhattan."

"Got it. Any starters? We have blue point oysters tonight-"

Ed and Olivia locked eyes and grinned.

"We'll have a dozen of those," Olivia said. "And I see...the pimento cheese crostini? That sounds great."

"It is," the server asserted cheerfully.

"Then let's go with those." The waiter walked off toward the kitchen and Olivia gazed ahead. As darkness set in, the twinkle lights lining every railing and post were more prominent and added to the romantic ambience. "We may have to look into a membership here," she murmured, "I like it."

"They have it all," Ed remarked, "Pool, tennis, shuffleboard, lessons for kids…"

"...and golf."

"You gonna learn to golf?" Ed asked, grinning.

"I'm sure you could show me a thing or two. Or, they probably have adult lessons."

"Nah," he said a little too quickly. "I'll teach ya."

Olivia chuckled and twirled her own rings this time, "Okay, Ed Tucker," she said, "You can teach me. Only you."

….

Maggie checked her laptop's battery level and took a deep breath. She glanced at herself in the mirror and smiled, happy with her decision to go with the updo rather than let her hair hang down at her shoulders. The updo was more professional, and she did her best to mimic the way she'd seen Sarah march into a conference room one day last fall when she shadowed her for a school project. Tonight Maggie was facing perhaps the most formidable audience of all-her parents. She would have been nervous had she not meticulously prepared for the pitch.

Ed and Olivia were situated on either side of the kitchen island murmuring to each other bits and pieces of what they were reading.

"Mom, Dad, can I talk to you for a sec?"

They looked up, over their reading glasses, and regarded Maggie with a modicum of concern. When Noah and Wyatt asked to talk, the question or dilemma was always serious. With Maggie, the topic could be as inconsequential as what she wanted for dinner or as serious as, well, what she was about to propose.

"Sure honey," Olivia said, "Do we need to move to the table?"

Maggie considered this. The island was probably better. She could stand-her presentations were better when she was standing-and everyone could easily see the computer screen. "No, I'll present here," Maggie set the laptop on the counter and flipped to the title slide. "The Benefits of Summer Study Abroad Programs," she began. "Academics, Bilingualism, and Culture-ABCs." Maggie grinned. She was proud of her acronym.

Clearly amused, Ed crossed his arms and glanced at Olivia who was less enthusiastic but also intrigued. Maggie certainly never lacked creativity.

"Research shows…" Maggie launched into a rich literature review, quoting renowned scholars and also a few pop culture icons. She used evidence to show how students who participated in study abroad programs earned better grades, attended elite colleges, and developed a more compassionate and open minded world view. She concluded with options for her own travel. "In no particular order" she identified France, Spain, and Italy as her preferred destinations for the month-long course offered to juniors at the school she and Wyatt attended. "I don't expect an answer right away," she said, "In fact, I prefer you think about it, revisit the presentation-I recorded it for viewing later-and provide an answer by next Friday which will give me the weekend to complete the application. Thank you for your time."

Drawing on all the stoicism a career in law enforcement could hone, Ed and Olivia barely cracked a grin as Maggie closed the laptop, nodded, and strode back to her room. Maggie started playing music, and Ed and Olivia broke into soft, appreciative laughter.

"Gotta give her an A for effort," Ed murmured.

"Absolutely."

"And think about lettin' her go?" He dared to suggest.

Ever so slowly, Olivia nodded. Raising teenagers had taught her an important, difficult lesson-Noah, Maggie, and Wyatt expected to be treated just like any other kid and they didn't know and could never understand the depths of Olivia's fear each time they marked a new milestone and grew more independent. And, it wasn't fair to hold them back solely because she knew first hand how cruel and ugly the world could be.

"I'll have to look at the plan, the itineraries, where they're staying…"

"It's linked on the last slide."

"Of course it is."

"So, how are we gonna play it when we tell her she can go?"

Olivia grinned. Ed loved to toy with the kids and he was very good at keeping a straight face during the ruses. "She's worked so hard…"

"Alright, we'll go easy."

"But she can take it."

"Yeah," Ed smirked at his wife who looked remarkably unfrazzled even though he knew the past few years had been tough for her. "She's tough like her mother."

"And relentless like her father."

Ed shrugged. "We passed on some decent traits."

"Yes we did."

….

After playing cards and a few rounds of Yahtzee, Noah dragged his dry erase calendar board to the dining table and began writing DC on the upper half of each week day block. When Caroline asked what he was doing he responded that he was making his plan for the week and explained how he'd learned this process last year in first grade. "Gramma," he said, "What day you think we should go out on da boat?"

"Tuesday," Caroline said, "Tuesday sounds like a fine boating day."

"Kay," Noah replied, "We haveta go in da afternoon 'cause I have my camp in da morning."

Caroline folded her hands in front of her, and, very seriously, said, "Tell me about this camp."

"Well, we have art and games and also math, science, and reading."

"What about history?"

Unsure of the answer, Noah twisted his lips, "I dunno 'bout his'try but his'try can be reading too, so, maybe." He wrote boat on the lower half of Tuesday then drew a pail, a surfboard, and an umbrella on the other days. "Dat means beach," he explained.

"Friday's blank," Caroline pointed out.

"We can do whatever we want on Friday!"

"Dear boy, that sounds fabulous."

"Mommy and Daddy have to say okay first," Noah added.

"I'm sure they'll approve."

"Yeah…" Noah yawned, "Gramma, you gonna read me a story from da Irish book?" Caroline coughed and her eyes started to water. Wide-eyed, Noah asked if she needed a glass of water. Caroline nodded and Noah quickly brought a glass to her. "Here ya go."

"Thank you," she said, "Grandma had a tickle in her throat."

"I think we have some throat spray," Noah said, "Mommy gives me dat when I have a tickle."

"I'm okay honey," Caroline downed the water and what was left of her vodka tonic. "Are you ready for the Irish tales?"

"Yup! I'll go get da book!"

"Oh, no need," Caroline tapped her head, "I have all the stories in here."

"In your memory?"

"Yes, sir!"

"I gotta do dat."

"When you read the stories enough and you work the puzzle books, you get your brain in very good shape for remembering everything. I never forget a thing."

"I gotta do more puzzles," Noah murmured. "Sometimes I forget stuff." Noah held the screen door open for Caroline and then sat beside her on the porch swing.

"Make sure you remember the important things," Caroline said.

"How do I know if it's im-port-ant?"

"Your heart will tell you," Caroline said, "You'll just know. Do you remember when Maggie and Wyatt were born?"

"Uh-huh."

"And you loved them right away?"

"Yep!" Noah exclaimed, "Even though Wyatt was all hooked up to wires and I couldn't see him!"

"Even then," Caroline said, "Nobody told you it was important to love your brother and sister. You just did. And you loved Wyatt without even seeing him! And that's how you'll know if things are important. Your heart tells you they are."

Ready for the story, Noah curled himself into Caroline's side. "Gramma, you tell good stories and you have good a'vice."

Caroline chuckled and replied, "That's what Grandmas are for."

…..

#Tuckson