Chapter 8
Over the last few days the girls had stuck close to home. Opting to postpone their official date until they were sure Frank could handle knowing about them. Both women were upset that Frank Cooper was dictating their lives without actually being a part of them, but they knew it was better to be safe then sorry. In the short time since they had admitted their feelings for each other, they had already had to deal with so much. They didn't want to push the envelope.
However Valentine's day was tomorrow and Olivia was determined to take her best girl out for a romantic evening. She just wasn't sure how. First things first, help Emma with her Valentine's day cards. She figured while they we delivering them she could make a 'coffee' run to Company and have a little chat with Frank.
Olivia Walked into the kitchen to the sight of Emma sitting at the table. Red and pink construction paper, markers, and scissors spread out in front of her. Olivia took a seat to assist her daughter.
Emma looked up with a sweet smile on her face. "I'm making pink hearts for the girls and red hearts for the boys."
"Oooo, very nice."
"Leave some room for Natalia."
"You know what Em. It's just gonna be um me cause Natalia is very busy."
"I want her to help. It will be more fun."
"We're gonna have fun."
"Don't you want Natalia to help?"
"Em, some times you don't always get what you want. Things are just what they are."
Holding up a red heart, Emma looked at her mommy with sadness in her eyes. "Do you need a new heart every year?"
"No. I get to keep this one." She took Emma's hand and held it to her heart. "Here feel. Bum, bum. Do you feel it beating?" Emma nodded her head yes. "It's cause it's really strong and I'm gonna be around for a long time." She took a red heart from Emma. "So can I keep this?"
"You said you didn't need it."
"I know but it's really nice and I want it." Taking Emma's face in her hands she looked into her sweet little eyes, "All I need is you. I love you so much."
"I love you too mom."
"I know."
Natalia walked into the kitchen and Emma let out a breath of excitement.
"Natalia look what I made."
"Wow, that looks great." Natalia replied with a genuine smile. Dimples on display.
"Can you do those little cut thingies that you did one time?"
"The little cut thingies? Oh you mean like fringe."
Olivia beat Natalia to an answer. "You know what Natalia is very busy."
"Oh I can help my two best girls for a few minutes."
Emma held up a big red heart. "This one is special. It's for Steven."
Natalia and Olivia looked at each other and then Olivia looked back to Emma. "Steven? Who's Steven?"
"He's a boy that I met in school. My, mu funny, my tummy keeps…"
"Funny feeling." Olivia offered. "Yeah, yeah. You mean like butterflies?"
"You know that feeling?"
She glanced at Natalia, "I know it well."
Slightly shocked by Emma's statement, Natalia finally found her voice. "Ooookkkkkaaaayyy, so how bout we make a pretty little butterfly on that one then? I'll help you draw it."
Olivia interjected looking at Natalia while speaking to Emma. "Actually Em, Natalia and I have something we would like to talk to you about. Involving the butterfly feeling."
"Yes. Yes we do." Natalia confirmed.
"What is it? Do you have butterflies for someone mom?"
"As a matter of fact I do." She took Natalia's hand and looked into her eyes and then back at Emma. "Natalia and I both have butterflies."
"Really? For the same person?"
"No not for the same person but for each…."
Just then Natalia's phone rings. She looked at the display, "It's Frank." She stated in an almost angry voice. "Frank, hi." She answered.
"Ah Natalia uh listen. I'm uh at the hospital."
"Are you okay?"
"Coop was in a bad car accident."
When Natalia hung up Olivia looked at her with concern evident on her face. "What happened?"
"Coop, he was in a car accident. Frank says it's really bad. He's just out of surgery. But they, I don't think they know."
"Oh my God."
"I know."
"So I should call em. I should see if I can do something."
"I don't know. I got the feeling it was a little hectic. You know maybe you should just wait for…" Her phone rang again cutting her off.
She checked the display again before answering. "It's Frank." She told Olivia.
"Oh I hope it's good news please."
"Hi Frank, how's Coop?" There was a silence while Natalia listened to Frank. "Oh yeah um she's, she's right here do you want me to um….okay, okay yeah. I will tell her. Bye."
"Did he want to talk to me?" Olivia asked some what confused.
"He had to leave the hospital to go make an arrest." Natalia stated swallowing hard with a worried look peppering her face.
"Okay, well I don't understand."
"Phillip Spaulding is back."
Olivia's face turned almost ashen while she registered what Natalia had just said. Going upstairs to stay out of Emma's ear shot they walked into Olivia's room closing the door behind them.
"Okay, Emma. I've got to um…."
"You can't go anywhere, other wise you're gonna scare her."
"No, I have to get her packed and I have to get her out of town."
"Oh just please calm down."
"You don't understand. He kidnapped her once before. He almost got away with it. If he had taken her away I never would have seen her again. He's been gone all these years and now he's back." Olivia fired off. Fear and anger lacing her voice.
"Okay, Well Frank is arresting him. Right now."
"It's not gonna matter. He's like Alan, he's gonna get away with everything. You don't understand. He, he was ruthless before he got sick, but when he left he was dangerous."
"Okay maybe it's different now, but he's gonna be in jail."
Raising her voice Olivia spoke over her. "No it's not different!" Calming her voice she looked Natalia straight in the face. "Harley's house, did Gus ever tell you why he was building that for her?"
"I don't…I don't know."
"Phillip leveled the house with a bull dozer. He wanted to level company, he wanted to level all of Springfield and build it over. He thinks the mothers' of his children are all unfit to raise them. This coming from the guy who plowed down his own sons house. And the timing of this, you think this is coincidental? It's not. Alan comes in here and he's blasting us for our relationship, concerned for Emma, and than all of the sudden Phillip is back. So what if Alan brings Phillip back to town to take Emma away from me? I won't let that happen. I swear to you I will kill him for real this time." She said, tears welling in her eyes. "Alright you, you take Emma and you, you get her out of town okay. And then you call me and you tell me…" Natalia shook her head no. "No, no you call me and you tell me where she is and I will meet up with you. I just need time to get a gun."
"A gun!"
"Just for security."
"No, no, no."
"Just for security, shh, shh I just…you need to get her out of town out of the country."
"Oh your talking crazy, Olivia."
"I just need to figure out what to do." She was getting frantic. "I don't know what to do."
Natalia walked towards her grabbing her hands and bringing them to her own chest. "Olivia, stop it. I know you're scared. You have every reason to be scared. But you're working yourself up, and your gonna get sick, and you're going to scare your daughter."
Tears were flowing freely down Olivia's face. She took a shuttering breath trying to calm herself and Natalia continued. "You can't make right decisions right now. You just, you can't think straight. So I'll do it. You're not going any where. You shouldn't go any where. You have me. Let me be strong for you, okay? I promise you that we are not gonna let any thing happen to your little girl. Trust me." She swept the hair out of Olivia's face and placed a chaste but sweet kiss to her lips. "You take a deep breath, trust me." Kissing her one more time she rubbed soothing circles on the hands still clasped to her chest while she waited for Olivia to calm. Once Olivia had calmed Natalia continued. "Look at me. Look into my eyes, what do you see?"
Looking up into Natalia's deep brown eyes Olivia spoke. "Someone who is strong and loyal, someone I can count on. And someone….."
"Say it."
"I can't."
"Yes you can. You can because I feel it too."
"You do?"
"I do. I love you and I can trust you with my life."
"You do? You really love me? Even when I'm crazy."
"Oh honey," she swept more hair from Olivia's eyes and left her hand resting softly against her cheek. "I love you MORE when you're crazy." She stated with a small smile.
As they leant in for a kiss a loud sound came from down stairs. Olivia pulled back fear gripping her. "Emma." Walking past Natalia and ran down stairs. Discovering that Emma had just dropped her marker box. "Emma, you have to be a little more careful with your things."
"You mad at me Mom?" Emma asked worriedly.
Natalia answered in a calm voice. "Mommy's not mad at you. She's just got a lot on her mind."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Olivia fired off angrily.
"A certain visitor back in town."
"Emma why don't you umm, why don't you finish up your Valentine's." Olivia said.
"They're done. I'm ready to deliver them."
"We're not gonna do, no we're not going out okay?"
"You promised."
"You're just gonna have to give them to your friends at school."
Walking to the area between the kitchen and living room, Natalia placed her hand on Olivia's back. "You can't keep her locked in the house forever. He's been arrested. He's behind bars."
"He'll get out of jail. It's a family talent."
"Okay then, I will go see Frank."
"Just go. If you wanna see Frank just say so."
"Where did that come from? I'm trying to help you."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just scared."
"I know, I know baby. It's gonna be okay. I'm gonna go see Frank to make sure Phillip is where he belongs. I'll be back as soon as I can." Cupping Olivia's face in her hands she gave her a brief but passionate kiss. "I love you."
Holding Natalia close for a moment more Olivia murmured, "I love you too. So much."
"'I'll be back. Just stay calm and call me if you need anything." After one more kisses Natalia headed out.
A few hours later Natalia returned. Walking in to find Olivia drinking tea curled up in the chair in the living room. Olivia unfolded herself and leant forward. "Hi, I, I thought you were staying at the hospital."
Sitting across from Olivia, Natalia let out a breath. "Well you can relax. Phillip is in jail."
Olivia looked down and let out a long breath. "How's Frank?"
"I brought the Cooper's some sandwiches you know. It's really hard being there."
"Oh my gosh it's been nearly a year hasn't it? I shouldn't have let you go over there by yourself." Olivia realized placing a comforting hand on Natalia's thigh.
"It's almost a year and now there's another man there fighting for him life after a car crash. It's almost a year since you got his heart and I just stood there and watched."
"Gus die and me live."
"All I really wanted to do is just come back here. I wanted to come back here and be with you. And this whole situation with Phillip, I don't want any thing to happen to you."
Olivia pulled her into her arms kissing the top of her head. "Gus died but I'm not going any where."
Pulling back Natalia dried her eyes. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm scared, and I'm confused."
"So, what should I make you for lunch? Because we have got to keep your strength up for what's ahead."
"Which is?"
"Sooner or later you're gonna have to see Phillip."
Walking into the kitchen Olivia took a taste out of the crock pot. "Lets see. Mmm smells good. There's a lot of salt in here. What are you trying to do kill me?"
"No ah mm. I need your rent money."
Olivia walked across the kitchen and wrapped her arms around Natalia's waist. "Oh is that all you need me for?"
"Hmmm, there might be another few reasons."
"Oh."
Kissing Olivia's neck up to her ear she whispered. "Yeah. You taste good too." Kissing her way to waiting lips they kissed with fever for long moments. Breaking away breathless but staying in each others arms Natalia asked, "would it help you at all if I went with you to see Phillip?"
"Phillip has a tendency to hurt people who cross him. I don't think you know what he's like."
"Well I know what the Spaulding's are like. And I know I would do anything to help my family."
"Well if were gonna flag a bull we need a plan."
"We tell the truth. That Emma lives here in a wonderful home with two people who love her."
"Two people who are what exactly to each other? Cause Phillips gonna wanna know."
"You worry too much. And my offer still stands. If you want me with you just ask."
"I want you with me."
"Then I will be there. And if you think it's best to not tell Phillip about us then we won't."
"No, he will find out from someone. It's best not make it seem like we're hiding anything. I just have to take a cue from my love and have a little faith."
"I love you Olivia Spencer."
"Mmm. I love you Natalia Rivera." Spoken with their lips brushing against each other, they closed the final millimeters engaging in a slow, tender, heart felt kiss. This Kiss was different then any before it. This kiss was one that spoke of the depth of their love as well as an acknowledgement of their painful past and hope for a bright future.