Chapter 29

Spring came and Amanda wrapped up her semester in May. She decided to take her final classes online and with the internship at the bureau she had the credits to graduate. She was so excited she headed to the precinct to tell Olivia. "Liv, I only have 2 online classes and my internship. They all end in July and I'm done!"

Olivia kissed her, "Congratulations baby! You're still going to walk across the stage right?" Amanda shook her head, "No." Olivia took a deep breath, "Well can we at least order the cap and gown for pictures?" Amanda agreed with that. "The bureau is giving time and I won't have to officially start until September." Amanda was talking to Olivia about vacation when her phone rang. "Hey mom! Guess what!"

Olivia smiled at their excitement. Beth and Amanda's relationship had come a long way and Olivia was happy for both of them. Beth was spending a lot of time with them. She was even coming over to babysit Noah. Lucy started part time at a daycare with a kindergarten class as an assistant. She didn't have many students and they were half days. Noah went 3 days with Lucy and the other 2 days he was with Beth. "See you tonight mom."

Beth came over every night for dinner. "Lieutenant! We need you." Olivia kissed her, "Duty calls." Amanda waved at her and Fin, "Be safe." Amanda went home, started dinner, and sent her mom a text. Noah was going to be turning 1 in June, but had been walking since he was 10 months old. "Noah, no." Lucy said in her stern voice. "It's getting late, I better call Liv. She had a case right before I left."

Amanda FaceTimed her, "Noah, come talk to mama." Olivia answered it, "Baby, I was just about to call you. Where's Lucy?" Amanda was confused, "Right here. It was getting late, but I knew you had a case. I was about to call mom, because she didn't answer my text earlier. Liv, are you ok? Are you at the hospital?"

Amanda noticed blood on her shirt. Olivia asked Amanda to sit down and for Lucy to come to the phone. "Amanda, I need Lucy to drive you to the hospital." Amanda panicked, "Liv, are you hurt?" Olivia hung her head, "No baby, it's your mom." Amanda sat down, she felt like someone punched her in the stomach. She couldn't even speak.

Olivia told Lucy that Alex was on her way to watch Noah and asked her to drive Amanda. Amanda heard it all, but didn't say anything. "Text me when you get here. I'll come down." Alex came and they left for the hospital. Olivia was in the parking garage to meet them. Amanda snapped out of her shock when Olivia wrapped her arms around her. When she saw the blood, she didn't need to ask, but she did, "Liv, is she dead." Olivia shook her head, "I'm so sorry baby. They did everything they could."

The call Olivia got was to the hotel that Beth worked at, but they said it was a guest who was raped. Olivia and Fin were taking the statement. The woman was hysterical. "Please, that lady saved me. He stabbed her. Is she alive?" Olivia turned and saw the hotel uniform and blonde hair.

She jumped up, "Beth!" Olivia saw it was Amanda's mom, "Save her please!" She was down too long. They had her on machines, but she was brain dead. Amanda sat by her bedside, "Amanda, the doctor is here." Amanda watched them unhook her machines and when her heart stopped, all the machines were cut off.

They buried Beth, celebrated Noah's first birthday, and finalized his adoption all within a month. Amanda threw herself into anything and everything that would keep her busy. Olivia knew not to push, but she also knew the breakdown was coming.

Beth paid her rent ahead so they didn't have to face cleaning her studio apartment until months later. "This isn't exactly how I planned to spend my first free day without school or work." They unlocked Beth's apartment. Other than some dust, it was spotless. Kim, Fin, Melinda, Alex, and Peter were all there to help. They packed up boxes, even arranged to leave the furniture. The guys loaded the pictures and personal items. Olivia saw Amanda sitting on the bed. "Thanks guys, we'll meet back at our place. Lucy's cooking."

Olivia and Kim walked over and saw Amanda holding a letter. "It has my name on it." They both rubbed her back, "Baby, she loved you. Do you want to read it? I'm right here?" Amanda opened the letter.

Dear Amanda,

Where do I start? This last year has been more than I could have ever dreamed of. You gave me more in that time then I gave you your entire life. I'm grateful that you had Kim and found Olivia. Kim even told me the story of how you met.

I owe you everything I have and this is my graduation present to you. In the envelope are the keys to your grandparents' homes. One is a vacation home on the beach located on Tybee Island. It's beautiful there. The other is a home in Atlanta, which if I were you I would visit it once and sell it. The last thing is this trust. My parents always had money Amanda. They were good people. I'm sorry they were just one more thing I kept from you. The trust was mine, but when I got clean my dad was the first one to pass away. I told my mom about you and asked to change the trust in your name.

This was the reason I came to New York. I asked Elliot to find you, to hand all of this over. I had no idea you would be so loving and forgiving. It is time to give you what I planned. I know it doesn't make up for anything, but if I could take it all back, I would do everything differently.

I love you Amanda Grace Benson. Thank you for a second chance.

Your mom