Chapter 5

The following afternoon while folding laundry the phone rang. As Olivia answered and heard Alan's voice on the other end and a pit formed on her stomach. "Hello"

"Olivia it's Alan."

"Hello Alan, What can I do for you?"

"Are you aware that Emma has sent me the school project she was working on about the Spaulding family?"

"I did not know that."

"Well I'm looking at it right now and the title of it is, My Two Mommies."

"It is interesting isn't it? Funny those kids, so innocent."

"I don't think it's funny. I'm concerned. Now, has she presented this to the class already?"

"Yes she has."

"Mmm and uh what was the feedback?"

"It went over well."

"Am I to start worrying about the environment my granddaughter is living in?"

"No you don't."

"I'm trying to reclaim my marriage and bring Spaulding back to the greatness it once was. Now I don't need another unexpected bump in the road."

"How are Natalia and I a problem for you?"

"Emma doesn't have two mommies. Phillip is her father."

"I know who her father is."

"Well I'll be back in Springfield shortly and I want to address this immediately before it gets any worse."

Olivia hung up the phone looking at Natalia with exasperation written on her face. Walking upstairs into her room with Natalia following close behind she let out a long sigh.

"It was that bad?" Natalia questioned.

"I can't believe I have to deal with this on top of everything else. It was a kids project." Anger laced her words.

"Can't you just explain this to Alan?"

"You can't explain anything to Alan when he's like this."

"I know. I was trying to be optimistic."

"Yeah well you weren't exactly optimistic when he was trying to help you with the Rafe situation awhile ago."

"Yeah well that was different. If I accepted to many hand outs from Alan he would have owned Rafe, and Nicky never wanted him to be just some pawn for the Spaulding's."

"That's exactly why I kept Emma away from them for so long. This is trouble."

"Well what can he do?"

"He's tried to take her away from me before. And I know what it's like going up against the Spaulding's. It's debilitating when you're not a hundred percent and I'm not."

"Then we take a step back."

"What?"

"For, for Emma, I mean if it's gonna save Emma. And Save you from having to fight with Alan. I mean we should…step back."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes I'm serious. If Alan is gonna use our relationship against you and you…you just said it could effect your health we should just…we should just step back."

"What is wrong with you? I thought you learned something." Angry and hurt Olivia walked past her, out the door, and down stairs.

Refusing to let this go Natalia followed her down the stairs.

Calming slightly Olivia started again. "Alright, do you know how long it takes me to do laundry by myself?"

"What?"

"It takes me a long time. It takes me a really long time okay. And it's always wrinkled. With you I get it done in a half hour and it's perfect."

"I'm a professional. What do you want?" Her voice rising slightly.

Raising her voice to match, Olivia fires back, "I want you to stop being so damn afraid. We have been together for what…two days and already you've run away and now you wanna give up."

"Okay you just said that you were worried about fighting with Alan."

"I am worried about it. Doesn't mean it's not worth the fight. Emma and I are not going anywhere and you and I are not changing anything."

"You're sure? That you want to take this kind of risk?"

"Aren't you…aren't you? We said this works right? This is a real home with a real family and I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you or Alan Spaulding or any one else take that away from us or my kid."

After a moment of silence while it all sunk in Olivia sat on the couch and began to fold laundry again. Coming around the coffee table to sit by her Natalia took her face in both hands. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I just don't want anything to happen to you or to Emma. I love you and I don't want to step back. I just wanna do what's best for you and for Emma."

"You're what's best for me and for Emma."

Natalia placed a sweet kiss to Olivia's lips "I know honey. We'll figure this out."

"Okay."

"Okay, so I was thinking of making lasagna for dinner. Would Emma like that?"

"Yeah, yeah she would. Maybe a little less cheese."

The following day Olivia met Alan to discuss Emma's paper. "Alright you wanna talk about this Emma situation talk. You asked me here remember." Seeing Alan's face as he turned towards her Olivia was suddenly concerned. "Alan, you're as white as a ghost. What's the matter?"

Alan slumped against the wall outside Company. Olivia stepped towards him placing a hand on his chest. "Hey, you need to talk to me okay. Is it your heart?"

"Um you might could say that."

"Okay you're breathless you're dizzy. Want me to get an ambulance? I could call someone."

"No, no, no ambulance I'll be alright."

"Yeah."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Okay lets go inside."

"No, no Olivia it's closed."

"Come on lets talk about Emma we'll go inside it's cold out…"

"If you wanna talk about Emma we will go to your house. I'll be able to see if she's alright there."

"No, I don't wanna upset her Alan." But he was already walking away towards the parking lot.

Residing to her fate Olivia took Alan to the farmhouse. Walking in Natalia questioned, "Hi, how'd it go with Alan?"

"Hi, Well…." She opened the door further for Alan to follow her in.

Surprised Natalia said, "hi Alan" with her always friendly smile. "This is a surprise. How are you? Alan?"

With an odd smile Olivia headed towards the living room. "Come on Alan, lets sit."

Following, Alan finally spoke. "Where's Emma?"

Natalia answered. "Upstairs, she's doing her homework. She's gonna be really excited to see you."

"Frankly I don't mind telling you I'm having a hard time understanding all of this. One moment I'm sitting here being interviewed by Emma about our family and the next moment…I…."

Olivia interjected, "the next moment what Alan? What?"

"The story comes out and it's about you two."

"Wait a minute, what's the problem with us two? Did you even read the story Alan? It's about how I do the marketing she does the cooking. I get Emma up in the morning she puts Emma to bed. It's about two people sharing responsibility, something that you would know nothing about."

"And somethings I will never share." He spat with venom seeping from his words.

"It's a loving home. Even Emma was mature enough to recognize that, to see the value in it."

Natalia added, "and especially after living in the hotel."

Olivia continued, "and it's not conventional but hey I'd stack it up against your dysfunctional family any old day."

Ignoring everything they had to say Alan turned towards the stairs. "I'm going up to see Emma."

Natalia tried to stop him. "Hey I'll get her for you or I could make some tea we can visit together, Alan?" Her voice trailed as he continued up the stairs to Emma's room. Natalia turned to Olivia, "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know, but it's scaring me."

Walking over to her and taking her in her arms, Natalia held her close. "I know, I know baby, me too, but, it's gonna be alright. We will make sure it's alright."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being here. For not running away."

Natalia pulled back to meet Olivia's eyes. "Oh honey, I will never run. We will face this and anything else together. Okay?"

Leaning in for a quick reassuring kiss Olivia whispers, "okay."

A little while later Alan returned from upstairs.

Natalia greeted him from the couch. "Did you have a nice visit with Emma?"

"She's a wonderful child."

Olivia joined in with her irritated voice. "So are you satisfied that she's not being corrupted by our decadent lifestyle?

"I've known you two for quite awhile."

"Known us, Alan I was married to you. She's the mother of your grandson."

Alan rose his voice, "Will you let me finish Olivia? If we were strangers, which we are not, and I read that article, I would have no trouble what so ever in thinking that you two…."

"Thinking what, that we're….that we're a couple. That's what you would assume, that Natalia and I are involved that we're lesbians. Say the word with me Alan, come on it's not a bad word."

"I'm not saying that I think you are."

Natalia calmly interjected, "and if we are?"

"The world can be very harsh Natalia. What people think can ruin you're reputation."

She tried to be level headed. "You're worried that Emma's gonna suffer because of what people think."

"People can be very cruel, they can surprise you, do things that are unexpected, take a direction that could end in…." His voice trailed to barely a whisper.

"Tragedy?"

"Yes tragedy."

Olivia had heard enough. "Okay look, we have no control over what other people think and no intention of changing our relationship to please other people."

"I just think it would be best if you two stopped whatever this is and stopped living together."

"Why? Why should we? We like what we have, it works for us. If there was something that you wanted Alan and somebody tried to step in and take it away from you, you would fight to get it back. Don't tell me that you wouldn't."

Alan stood there awestruck at being disobeyed. Then got his coat and headed for the door. Olivia following, "Emma is happy Alan, happier then she's ever been. I'm sure she told you that."

"This isn't over Olivia. This….this relationship is unnatural and I will put a stop to it." With that he was out the door.

Closing the door, she looked at Natalia, "I kind of expected more of a fight, but I know it's not over. With Alan Spaulding it's never over."

Natalia opened her arms for Olivia to fall into. Holding her close she pulled back just enough to be able to give her a calming kiss. A kiss of togetherness. A kiss that said we are in this together. Whatever may come.