Chapter 6
It had been a few days and there was no word from Alan. Life had continued as it always had in the Spencer-Rivera home with the small differences of lots of kissing, hand holding, and cuddling after Emma went to bed. The time had come for Natalia to make a plan to speak with Frank. They had allowed a few days for things to cool down after Alan before adding another log to the fire, but now it was time. They had already had a run in with him after Emma's school field trip when they took the kids to Company for ice cream. Natalia had to shoot down another date. She had already had to tell him no everyday over the phone since the day of the hospital. Seeing him in person wasn't exactly harder, just more awkward. Natalia knew that if it went on too much longer Olivia would begin to question her seriousness.
"Hey honey?" Natalia called from the living room.
Poking her head in from the kitchen Olivia answered, "Yeah sweetheart."
"I think it's time that I met up with Frank to explain things to him. He needs to understand that I wont be dating him or any one else not named Olivia Spencer. And we need to move forward with our relationship. Quit having to keep it contained to these walls. We haven't even been to dinner since Emma's presentation all for the sake of protecting Frank Cooper's feelings, but what about ours?"
"I agree. I know we needed to let things die down after Alan threw his hissy fit, but it's been days and no word. Besides Alan is going to do what he is going to do weather we stay hidden in the house or are 'out and proud' so to speak. So, yes. You arrange to speak with Frank and I will arrange for Jane to watch Emma Saturday night so I can take my lady on a date!"
"Oh, a date, really, and what kind of date did you have in mind Ms. Spencer?"
"That Ms. Rivera, you will just have to wait and find out."
Seeing the matter of fact look on Olivia's face, Natalia knew she wasn't going to get any details. "Well fine then, but it better be good. Make up for kissing me before even taking me out." She said with an innocent smile.
"I could stop kissing you until after our first date if you prefer." Olivia countered with a satisfied smirk.
Standing and pulling Olivia to her by the front of her shirt she placed a chaste kiss on smiling lips. "Don't even think about it Ms. Spencer. I need your kisses."
"Oh, you NEED them huh?"
"Yes. I NEED them. Are you arguing?"
"No, just making sure I understand." And then she was kissing her soundly and deeply. Tongues battling. Hands begid deeply. Tongues battleing nning to roam as Olivia maneuvered them to the couch, Gently pushing Natalia back and spreading her body on top of her without ever breaking the kiss. Olivia kissed down her jawline and to her ear whispering in a low seductive growl. "Oh baby I need your kiss, I need your touch, baby, I just need you." Then she continued to kiss down Natalia's neck to her pulse point gently sucking there. Natalia let out a soft moan as her fingers tangled in silky honey blond strands, pulling Olivia back to her mouth for a heart stopping kiss.
They continued to kiss for endless minutes. Olivia ran her hands down Natalia's sides. Reaching the hem of her shirt, she slid her hand underneath to run across smooth skin. As she started to lose herself in Natalia she suddenly snapped out of it and stopped all movement of her hands. Slowing their kiss and then pulling back. She looked down into chocolate eyes dark with desire and almost lost herself again. Feeling herself begin to drown in those beautiful dark eyes she cleared her throat. "Okay, stopping, so Frank, need to talk to Frank." She said climbing off of Natalia and standing.
With a sigh and a small chuckle, Natalia brought herself to a seated position on the couch. "Yes. Frank. Talking to Frank. Today. Talking to Frank today. I'm going to call him and see if he is free this evening. I can drop you and Emma at the park and then maybe Towers for dinner?"
Olivia just nodded her head, still not sure she could form coherent words. "Yes, yes that sounds like a plan."
"Okay just let me check the news see if the ground hog saw his shadow."
"Okay my love, I'm gonna go grab us some wine." She moved to the kitchen to poor the wine. "So what's the news? Do we have six more weeks of winter or what?"
"You better come out here."
Olivia walked back in, wine in hand. "You don't believe in that stuff do you?" As she looked up there was Mayor, Doris Wolfe, making a speech about Emma's paper. Talking about it as if Emma was not safe in her home. Acting as if children needed to be protected from a family such as theirs. "I don't believe this."
"I can't watch this any more." Natalia said, moving to turn the television off.
"No. don't, I wanna see it. Where the hell does she get off. She's making it sound like Emma needs to be protected from me."
"I don't…I don't. It was just a school paper."
"Okay, I don't know who tipped her off."
"It was…It was about family and she's just turning it into….." Standing Natalia made her way to the kitchen with Olivia following. She grabbed her coat from the chair.
"Hey where are you going?"
"I'm going uh Frank, I need to talk to Frank. So uh I'll see you later." With those words hanging in the air she walked out the door.
Olivia just watched her leave slightly concerned that she didn't get her usual kiss good bye and then immediately pissed off and headed straight for Doris Wolfe.
Walking into Doris Wolfe's office Olivia went straight to her desk leaning over it with both hands planted firmly.
Doris looked up. "Do you have an appointment?"
"You know I would ask you who put you up to this but it has Alan's name written all over it so what did he promise you?"
"Hey, Alan had nothing to do with this and I am not his puppet."
"Really, then why are you doing it?"
"Because I am the Mayor, and a parent, and I'm concerned for our children."
"Oh so with unemployment and the sinking economy this is what concerns you, an elementary school project?"
"Well it certainly got your attention didn't it."
"It's my daughters project and you're blabbing it all over town."
"I did not mention any names."
"No you'll just let people speculate and gossip and make them think that Natalia and I are…."
"Look, as I said in my address, your private life is your affair. Kay? It's not personal. I know plenty of nice lesbian couples."
"Look we are just figuring this out. We weren't even a couple until the day of the project. We still have so much to think about and figure out. The last thing we need is this town gossiping and making it harder on us. We haven't even told Emma."
"Well it looks as if she already knows."
Before Natalia could even begin the conversation with Frank she got a call that Emma was missing. She started to panic until Frank took control. Grabbing their coats they headed out the door in search of Emma.
Back at the mayor's office the battle of wills continued.
"Look my daughter was just doing what she was asked to do. She was writing about her family."
"Right, my two mommies."
"Come on, she didn't know what that meant. Now, at the time, Natalia and I were just friends and because you want something you're turning it into something salacious."
"Two adult women living together I think I understand what that means, and now your admitting that, maybe not at the time, but now you are together."
"I almost died this year did you know that? Did Alan tell you that?"
"I…"
"My heart was failing. And Natalia, she was a maid at my hotel. The only thing I knew about her was her husband."
"Right, Gus Aitoro."
"Mmmhmm, and because I didn't want to die alone, me being me, I made a play for him."
"Wow this story gets better and better."
"It's not story it's my life. And you know that Gus died in a motorcycle accident. And Natalia she umm, she agreed to give me his heart. I mean after everything I did. After trying to steal her husband she agreed to do that for me. Would you have done that? I couldn't have done that. But see that's just who she is. She's just innately good. She's decent. She's kind. She's warm. She's beautiful. And she's a lot stronger then people give her credit for. She's worked her whole life and not for herself, but for other people. So even after I got outta the hospital and I didn't wanna life, she fought for me. She fought for me to live, and not just for me but for my daughters because she wanted them to have their mother there. And now we have a home and it's different, but it's safe and it's warm. And it's decent. And that's because of her. That's because of who she is. That's because of what she makes it…..What are you looking at?"
"I wish a man would talk about me the way you just talked about her."
"I told you we're together and if you do anything to hurt her or my daughter…"
"Relax, relax. This is not personal okay? It's just politics. At least for me. Now if you will excuse me I am very busy."
Natalia walked into the store and ran straight to hug Emma. "Thank God." She said exasperated holding Emma close.
Frank walked up behind them, "Hey Emma."
"Hey Frank" Emma said sadly.
Natalia pulled back from their embrace. "Emma, you left the playground. You know you're not supposed to do that."
"I don't wanna talk about it."
Natalia turned to face Frank. "Hey Frank could you maybe um call Olivia, just let her know you know that we've got Emma."
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah of course. You ladies stay put and we'll um, we'll have that talk another time."
Natalia faced Emma again. "Alright sweetie, if you don't wanna talk about it, you don't have to talk about it. But you know if, if, if you do wanna tell me, you can tell me anything. Okay? If you do have a problem or anything."
"It's Derek."
"Derek, from your class? I thought you guys were good friends."
"His mom said that we can't play together. I don't know why."
She took Emma to sit at the table and wait for Olivia as she tried to make her understand. "You shouldn't be mad at your friend Derek, or even his mom."
"Why don't they like me any more?"
"Some times grown ups just start to care way too much about what other people think. And they just, they forget what really matters. You know?" She hugged her close and kissed the top of her head as Olivia walked in behind them.
"Hey." Olivia said walking to the table.
Emma looked up. "Are you mad at me?"
"No, I'm not mad. Frank told me what happened with Derek and his mom. Natalia's right, sometimes you learn the hard way who your real friends are."
Looking into Olivia's eyes for just a moment Natalia let out a sigh. "Alright should we get her back to school?"
"No, we should play hooky. Who wants to play hooky?" All three raised their hands with smiles on their faces.
"Yes!" Natalia and Oliva squeal together. Natalia and Emma got up from the table. Emma grabbed a hand from each woman and they walked out of the store together headed to Towers for ice cream Sundays.
Looking across the table at Natalia, Olivia felt the need to apologize. She knew that this talk with Frank wasn't going to be easy for the younger women and hated that it had now been postponed. "I'm sorry your talk with Frank got interrupted."
"Oh no, it's okay. I mean as soon as I got the call about Emma I knew she needed me." She looked at Emma, "Right?"
Still digging her spoon into her ice cream Emma responded, "We're a family, that's what I wrote in my paper."
Natalia looked to Olivia. "I don't know what everyone got so riled up about, I mean she knows better then anyone, we're a family."
Olivia agreed. "We are, we're a family cause only family would tell ya when you gotta a little chocolate" she circled around her face.
"Me?" Natalia asked.
"Mmmhmm."
"Where?"
Olivia put her finger on her nose.
"On my nose, how did it get on my nose?"
"I don't know."
She pointed at Emma, "You did it."
Olivia reached out a hand, "come here" she cleaned the chocolate from Natalia's nose.
Emma squealed, "no I did not."
Laughing Natalia responded. "Oh god I'm such a mess."
Emma continued to squeal. "I didn't even touch you."
Still laughing Natalia wiped at it with her napkin, "I'm sorry," she reached a hand to Emma "Look at you."
After some joking with ice cream and cleaning Emma's face it was time to go. Natalia looked at Olivia, "Okay, I'm gonna get her back to her baby sitter and then I think I'm gonna get back to my talk with Frank."
"Ahh yeah, would you mind just uh dropping her off with Jane. I need to talk to the manager about a party."
"Okay, for the Beacon?"
"Uh no, no actually it's a Valentines day party, We're gonna show this whole town what a loving family really looks like."
"Okay, we can talk about that later."
Waiting until Em and Natalia were out of sight, Olivia made her way to a table where a couple of moms from Emma's school had been watching. "You have a problem with us ladies? You seem very interested in my family. So where'd you hear about us? From the Mayors press conference? Or wait a minute you put two and two together, saw my daughters book report on the internet and came up with some fricking scandal right?"
"We didn't mean to uh…"
"What? Judge us, disapprove? It's such a shock. I mean I'd be shocked too. Your kids going to school with the girl with two mommies, I mean really it's scandaless. Two women who care about each other, living under the same roof, doing the best they can to raise a child they both love. I mean what is the world coming to?"
At that moment Natalia walked up behind Olivia. "Excuse me, sorry she's just a little upset."
"No honey, no I'm not upset. In fact I've never been better." The two looked at each other. Natalia smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. Olivia knew she was in trouble but continued to follow the ladies down the steps and opened her mouth again, digging the hole with Natalia even deeper. "Hey, I just realized I didn't get a chance to introduce you to Natalia. I'm so sorry. Natalia, this is Becky's mom and Owen's mom. Their kids go to the same school as Emma. And Natalia of course is the other star of my daughters school project. But I'm guessing you already knew that, ya know since you where up there whispering about us behind our backs."
Trying to rain in the emotions that were flying Natalia stepped in. "It's nice to meet you."
"Like wise, we really should be going."
Olivia was refusing to let it go though. "No, no, no don't you wanna ask questions? Really it's okay you know. Like what's it's like to be two mommies together? Who fixes Emma's lunch in the morning? Who goes on her field trips with her? I mean we both have decided to share that responsibility. And the cooking, although she makes a mean chicken and rice and her lasagna is to die for."
Completely over the display Olivia had chosen to put on in the middle of Towers, Natalia tried to get her to leave. "Olivia, come on."
However Olivia wasn't done just yet. "And we work together at the Beacon. I don't know if you knew that. So we live and work together. But I have to say that I have never been happier in my entire life, because not only is this women a great mom but she's smart and she's funny and let's face it, she's a hottie."
The two women both completely embarrassed by both being caught talking about them and by Olivia's display decided that they were done listening. "It was nice meeting you Natalia. We're late for PTA."
Just to get in one more Olivia kept going as they walked away. "Okay, well say hi to Becky and Owen for me and call we'll make a play date." She looked at Natalia as she started to also walk away. "Hey. What'd I say?"
Walking into the house Natalia was pissed and Olivia was coming in after her trying to calm her down not so successfully. "Don't you think you're over reacting just a little bit?"
"What on earth were you thinking causing such a scene in front of those women?"
"Who cares? They're a couple of pathetic gossips."
"It wasn't necessary Olivia. We still have things to figure out. I haven't even talked to Frank yet."
"What would you of had me done turn the other cheek?"
"That would have been one way of handling it yes."
"No, no that's your religion not mine. I don't believe in getting walked on, not any body. Some body kicks me I kick them back."
"And that's what's best for Emma."
"Oh I think she would have been proud of what I did today."
"For picking a fight."
"No, no by showing those women that I don't tolerate that narrow minded crap."
"Oh please you didn't take the high road. You felt like picking a fight and that's exactly what you did."
"So what. So now they know we're lovers?"
"Oh you loved it. You just loved getting into their brains and making them feel bad."
"So what, what is so wrong with people knowing that we're together? Is it really the end of the world to you? For people to know that we're gay?"
"No but you could have walked away and ignored them."
"Is that what you wanna teach Emma? That she should just run away from people that try to bully her?"
"You were taunting them. You made everything so much worse."
"To make a point."
"What point was that?"
"This it's none of their Business."
"Well Doris Wolfe made it their Business when she turned it into a news story."
"I don't care what Doris Wolfe says or does. This is our relationship."
"Please stop. What you did back there was wrong."
"So us being together, this is just a really terrible horrible thing?"
"I didn't say that."
"Sounded that way."
"Ugh you have your beliefs and I have mine."
"See I thought that you believed in us. Believed in this family. In you and me and Emma."
"I do. Of course I believe in us. I…I just don't believe in the way you handle things some times."
Both women just stared at each other for a moment. Both at a loss for what too say next. Natalia finally broke the silence. "I have to go. I have to go meet up with Frank again. I will see you and Emma tonight."
"Okay. Great." As Natalia started to leave Olivia grabbed her arm and spun her around. Taking her face in her hands she kissed her with everything she had. Pulling away breathless she looked into those deep brown eyes so full of both hurt and love. "I'm sorry. Maybe I did handle it wrong. Maybe I should have walked away, but I just love you so much and the thought of any one trying to disrespect you or our family just makes me so angry. I'm sorry. Please forgive me?"
Placing her hand against Olivia's cheek Natalia looked into those beautiful, bright green eyes she loves so much. "Oh querida, yes, yes I forgive you, just please promise me you won't make a habit out our this. I love you and I have no problem with people knowing but not like that. Okay?"
Leaning their foreheads together Olivia quietly responded. "Yes baby, I promise. No more putting on a show. I really am sorry."
"I know you are. And how protective you are is one of the many things I love about you, but that wasn't protection that was showing who the bigger witch is."
Letting out a small laugh Olivia looked down and then back to Natalia's eyes. "I know and I will try my very best to reign it in from now on."
"Okay."
"Okay."
The promise was sealed with a tender kiss before Natalia headed out to speak with Frank.