Chapter 32
She felt so freaking uncomfortable and didn't know what to do.
Sarah realized how uncomfortable Liv was and tried to comfort her.
"Liv, it's not your fault. They just are like this. Mom knows how to push his buttons and she seems to enjoy it because if not, I am not sure why she does it over and over again. This may not help but the fights about you aren't new. They had fights like this for years. You and his work were and are the top fight topics.
So don't worry, even before you and dad started dating she hated you. I guess she hated you since the first day you two were partnered up. But I swear, if you wouldn't be here, she would find other things she can start a fight about. She is different with Kurt and dad is obviously a lot different with you, so I guess they just aren't meant to be together and I am pretty sure they wouldn't even have married each other if it wasn't because of me. I wish they wouldn't have done it just because of me, they could've been happy a long time ago." Liv looked at her surprised.
"Sarah, don't even think like that. They make their own decisions and I know that they loved or even still love each other in some way. They love you and your sister with all of their hearts. And I am sorry that I have been the reason for so many fights for so long. I really didn't want to do that to your family." Liv said guiltily.
Sarah moved closer and hugged her.
"Thank you, Liv. And I didn't say that to make you feel worse, I told you that because it doesn't matter what you do, mom hates you. So you can just live your life without constantly worrying about her, she will find something to be mad about or to start a fight about." Sarah pulled away, wiping a tear from her cheek.
"What the fuck did you do to my daughter?" Kathy shouted while running towards them. She pushed Liv out of the way and tried to hug Sarah.
"Mom, are you crazy? Did you seriously just push her away? What is wrong with you?" Sarah shouted while moving away from her mother.
Elliot rushed over to them.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" he almost shouted at Kathy.
He went to Liv to check on her but she put a hand on his chest to keep him from getting too close.
"I'm fine. But I really think it's better if I leave now."
"Please, don't let her win. You have the right to be here." Elliot said.
"I am not going because I can't handle her or because I give up, I just really have to go before I lose it. It's fucking 9 in the morning on a sunday, this is a bit much for all of us. I'll just go for a walk or something."
"You really don't have to go. I will throw her out now. Nobody pushes you around."
"El, stop!" she said but he was already in front of Kathy.
"Leave! Now!" he said sternly. Kathy looked at him with big eyes.
"Are you serious? She told you to kick me out because she can't handle me?"
"Kathy, you are way out of line! Olivia didn't say anything about you because she is a fucking grown up.
You really think she couldn't have stopped you from pushing her? She could have subdued you before you even had the chance to touch her, but she didn't. She tries so hard to please you, to keep you calm. You know why?
Not because she is afraid of you or tries to make everyone like her and hate you.
No, it's because she doesn't want that kind of environment for the kids and she tries to make it easier for me.
Oh and for you too because she tries to understand where you're coming from, why it is hard for you to accept her. Your behaviour is beneath contempt."
Kathy stood in front of him with wide eyes and an embarrassed look on her face.
"I.. " she stumbled. Then she turned around and rushed out of the apartment.
"Damn, dad. You totally smashed her." Sarah said surprised.
Elliot turned towards her, kinda shocked about what he had just done in front of everyone.
"Don't worry dad. It was harsh but what she just did, proved that she really needed to hear this." Sarah walked towards him and hugged him.
Liv didn't know what to say or do. What just happened was too much to handle. Elliot's words were so sweet but he was also really harsh towards Kathy.
"Where is mom?" Lola suddenly asked, coming out of the girls room. Sarah started to laugh.
"Didn't you hear the shouting?" she said laughing.
"No, I uh borrowed your music player." she said guiltily. Sarah laughed even harder.
"You mean you just took it."
"Kinda, yes." Lola said looking on the ground. Sarah walked towards her.
"It's fine, just ask me the next time, okay?"
Lola nodded like crazy and started to smile.
"Uh, I'll make some tea. Anyone?" Liv asked, trying to get some alone time as fast as possible. But before the others could even say anything, she was out of the room.
Okay, get it together Olivia. Your boyfriend just defended you in front of his bitch of an ex wife.
He was so sweet and didn't have a problem to show everyone how much she means to him. Why did this scare her? What was her problem? She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down.
Suddenly she felt him close. He didn't touch her or say anything and although she didn't face him, she could feel him. She tried to act normal.
"Hey. You want some tea?" she asked, forcefully cheerful. He tilted his head and smiled at her.
"Liv, you don't have to act like you are fine. I know this whole situation freaks you out and I really understand why. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to but please don't act like you are fine.
It's me. Remember, the man you love and who loves you more than anything." he smiled at her lovingly. She looked at him confused.
"You understand my reaction? Because if you do, you have to explain it to me. I don't get it." she said desperately.
He moved closer and smiled supportively.
"Liv, this relationship overwhelms you all the time, you've never had such a serious one before. You just lost your apartment and were forced to live with me, in my apartment.
That's like 50 steps at once. And my lovely ex wife makes it even harder for you. I am more than thankful that you haven't left yet. I would've totally understood that, she just physically attacked you. I mean this is more than the worst case scenario.
Don't worry about feeling overwhelmed or freaked out, I don't mind it as long as you talk to me. I do understand you or at least I can promise you to try my best to do."
She looked at him more than surprised.
He seemed to really understand her, sometimes even more than she understood herself or more like he was able to accept her and she had her problems with accepting her weird behaviour sometimes.
"Thank you." she said while hugging him tightly.
"You're more than welcome." he said, kissing the top of her head. She moved away and said, "Okay, no more exchange of affection while your kids are around." she said certainly.
He moved away from her a few steps and put his hands in the air.
"Fine for me. But just for the record, you hugged me, Misses 'No PDA in front of the kids'." She started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Sarah asked while entering the kitchen.
"I am, of course." Elliot said cockily. Sarah shot him a look that said, 'Yeah, sure dad.'
Liv filled the water boiler with water, so she had something to do.
"Whatever." Sarah said, still looking suspiciously at her dad. "Lola and I thought we could play some games if you want? I mean the weather sucks, so I am sure we won't go outside."
"Sounds good." Elliot and Olivia said simultaneously. Sarah looked at them and started to smile.
"Alright. We will pick one and wait for you at the table." Elliot turned towards Liv and started to laugh. She smiled too and continued making her tea.
"Are you up for some exchange of affection while the kids are busy picking a game and setting it up?" he said jokingly.
She punched him slightly in the arm.
"Ouch, that's not what I meant." he said grinning.
"Get out of here now and help the kids." she demanded grinning. He walked out of the kitchen laughing.
The rest of the day was really nice. After playing games they ordered some food and watched a movie.
Then Sarah wanted to talk to Liv, so Elliot and Lola watched another movie while the others went over to the kitchen table to talk. Sarah wanted to talk to her about Lauren and how great things were, since she came out to her parents and since Lauren's mom stood up for her. Liv was really happy to hear that the two girls were finally able to be happy.
Although the others begged her to drive with them when it was time for the girls to go home, she knew that it was better to stay at the apartment. She really didn't want another confrontation with Kathy.
She decided to take a bath to relax a bit. Tomorrow they had to work again and she wanted to feel at least a bit more relaxed than she was right now.
When Elliot came back, Liv was already in bed.
"Hey." he said while entering the bedroom.
"Hey. Everything okay? You were gone for a while."
"Yes, everything's fine. Kathy wanted to talk to me." She looked at him worriedly.
"Don't worry. She was pretty reserved. She only told me that she didn't get the job in DC, she had applied to."
"Job in DC? You didn't tell me about a job in DC." Liv said confusedly.
"I didn't want to put even more on you.
She threatened to take the girls with her but she didn't mention it again, so I thought it was off the table, well it wasn't but now it is."
"You tell me to feel whatever I feel as long as I talk to you, if you want me to do that, you have to do it too."
"I know. I am sorry. But I honestly forgot about it. She just wanted to go there to make me feel bad, to make me leave you."
"So she wanted to take the kids there too? Because of me?"
"Look, that's exactly why I didn't want to tell you. She didn't do it because of you she did it because of her own insecurities."
"Okay. Let's go to bed now. We have to get up early tomorrow and my day is packed." was all she said.
"I'll take a quick shower." he said while walking towards the bathroom door. "What do you mean with, your day is packed?" he asked.
"Well, I hope I can go look at some apartments tomorrow. I really don't want to live out of boxes any longer than I have to. And you know, finding an apartment in New York and finding the time to move will take forever."
"Yeah, I guess." he said while disappearing in the bathroom.
He didn't want her to go, he loved living with her. Being around her all day was amazing but he also understood that she didn't want to live like this any longer, most of her stuff was in storage and the other part was in boxes in his apartment. But then he had an idea.
He needed to call his friend tomorrow.