GLORIA'S 24 HOUR DINER

167 WEST 72nd STREET

MANHATTAN

9 AM


They ended up at a nearby local eatery called Gloria's 24 Hour Diner when it came to a destination for their pancake breakfast.

After sitting in a booth by the window and placing their orders, Olivia excused herself to the bathroom. She really had to go. When she returned to the table, she noticed that Sophia had physical pictures in her hands and was beaming at them.

"Whatcha got there?" Olivia asked her.

"These are sonograms of my Georgia siblings. Would you like to see, mom?"

Olivia nodded and put on her reading glasses. "I would love to."

Each of the Rollins babies were clearly defined—two were side-by-side, and one was a little off to the side, separate. They were all just growing away. Big, healthy. Happy.

The lieutenant looked back to her offspring. "Benoît Etienne Junior, Eden Lily, and Haven Aster, right? Those are their names?"

"Correct, but how did you know?"

"Amanda mentioned them the other day, but I only just remembered." Olivia handed the sonograms back and watched Sophia put them away. "Beth Ann believes in snail mail, then?"

"Yes. She sends updates to Amanda and I after every appointment—it's how she includes us because she lives over eight hundred miles from here." Sophia smiled. "The pictures you just saw came in yesterday's mail, with a letter."

"Do you have any idea when Beth Ann is due?"

"Early springtime. She called to talk yesterday, and…"

Sophia's words trailed off as her face immediately split into a grin. She had special news to share with her mother.

"Casey and I decided yesterday on August twenty-fifth for our wedding date." she said. "Moments after that, Beth Ann called, just to talk. I ended up telling her about the decision we'd just made. Are you mad?"

"Pardon?" Olivia said blankly. "What on earth would I be mad about?"

Sophia tried not to be too squirrely. "That I told Beth Ann about the wedding date first, and not you."

Enlightenment dawned on Olivia. "You told your Georgia mother before me because she loves you as much as I do, and the opportunity presented itself. No need to worry."

"Good, because Beth Ann said that if they can't make it back here before August, she and Benoît are going to make sure that we'll meet the triplets in time for the wedding."

"That's definitely exciting." Olivia agreed. "Any other wedding things on lock yet?"

Sophia had a lot of wedding-related ideas to share. Olivia listened to everything. Watching her daughter light up always made her heart happy.

"We're not sure of all the exact fine print just yet, but that's what we've come up with so far." Sophia said when she finished. "What do you think?"

She had just outlined ideas for the venue, who all they wanted to invite, and the type of dress that she hoped to find.

"I'd say that you're off to a great start. I'm also very impressed." Olivia checked the time. "Hey, I have presents in my car from Alex and I to you, your family, and the 5th Avenue Novaks. Would you like to help me bring them over?"

"I would love to!"

"Fantastic. Before we see them, I'd like to find an open flower shop."

This piqued Sophia's interest. "Who are the flowers for?"

"My mother—no matter how busy Christmas Day gets, I always bring flowers to her headstone."

Sophia checked her own watch. "The Watering Can is open."

"Really?"

"Really." Sophia stacked her own dishes. "It's only for a few hours, but we can make it if we move."

Olivia stacked her own dishes and went into her purse to get her wallet. "That sounds like a great idea."


THE WATERING CAN

777 5th AVENUE

MANHATTAN

10:45 AM


Olivia was very surprised to see who was running the shop that day.

"Casey?"

The redhead hugged them when she came from around the counter. She was dressed for a morning of work, and even wearing a green apron with her name on it over her clothes. No deep thinking was required to see what was going on.

"Do you moonlight as a florist in your parents' shop, something?" Olivia said after they'd exchanged Christmas greetings.

"From time to time, and we're open for a few hours every national holiday. Violet was to mind the store today."

"Where is she?" Olivia asked curiously.

"Upstairs with Melissa. They adore each other." Casey made note of the time and the car keys in Olivia's hand. "What do you need?"

"Wildflowers. We're about to go visit my mom's grave."

Casey moved across the room. "Those are over here. Come on."

In next to no time, Casey had helped Olivia and Sophia arrange the perfect bouquet.

Violet appeared just as the flowers were laid on the counter.

"Are you charging them, Little Bean?" she pressed.

Casey stomped her foot in annoyance at the use of her childhood nickname. "Do you have to call me that?"

"For as long as you are my child." Violet responded with a perfectly straight face.

"Touché, and no, I wasn't going to charge Olivia. I was going to pay for it myself."

Sophia chimed in, "And I was going to tell Casey to take it out of my wages."

Violet wrapped the flowers in cellophane and handed them over. "That's all incredibly sweet, my dears, but we'll take it out of the shop's account."

Olivia took the flowers. "Are you sure? These are to bring to my mother's headstone."

"Then I am very sure. We're family, and it's Christmas, after all."

Casey turned to her mother. "The whole point of me minding the store was for you to hang out upstairs. Why are you down here?"

Violet shuffled her feet in a childish way. "Have you seen my mug?"

"There, ma, by the register." Casey pointed to a ceramic mug just within reach. "I imagine that the coffee is cold by now."

"It is."

Violet sighed at the cold java when she saw it, and then distracted herself by talking to Olivia once more.

"Would your other half mind if you popped upstairs after you go to the cemetery?"

Olivia shook her head. "I was actually hoping that I could stop by—there are presents in the car."

"Well, how about that? We have presents for our Southwell Street family."

Casey tacked on an afterthought. "We're about to close, but drop a line to Savannah when you're done. She'll come down in the elevator."

"Elevator?" Olivia said in confusion. "There's an elevator?"

"Yep." Sophia confirmed. "The staircase behind the counter is rather steep, so the lift is how they get big things up to the residence."

"A lift makes perfect sense, then." Olivia regarded the Novaks. "We'll be back in an hour or less."

Casey winked. "See you then."


Before Olivia knew it, they were already in the parking lot behind the flower shop, waiting on Savannah.

They were also standing near the elevator. From the outside, the door was just a steel slab on hinges. Olivia had a start when she first realized what she was looking at. She'd passed by it many times without thinking twice of what the door was even for.

Finally—

"Hey, guys!"

Olivia and Sophia both nearly jumped out of the their skins when they heard Savannah. They hadn't even heard the elevator door open because they were lost in their own thoughts. And the lift was very quiet.

Savannah hugged them both and then moved to Olivia. "What exactly do you need help with?"

The lieutenant handed her a large canvas bag she was holding. It was filled with everyone's presents.

"This, please."

"You got it."

Savannah received the bag with ease. Olivia and Sophia then boarded the lift with her and they made the journey upstairs.

There was a receiving area that also doubled as a mudroom and a storage space, Olivia found, when they disembarked from the lift. They put their things away here.

"Here we go." Savannah motioned mostly to Olivia because she hadn't been this way before. "Just through here."

She opened a door at the other end of the room, and Olivia further discovered that they were just beside the actual front door.

"NANA LVVIE?!"

Melissa's very surprised but excited voice punctured the air. Olivia caught her just in time as she ran to her at full speed and swept her up in a hug. In return, Melissa gave her the biggest hug she could, just because she was happy to see her.

"Merry Christmas!" Olivia gave her granddaughter another hug. "How are you?"

"So happy! Is it time for Auntie Harper's babies yet?"

"Not yet. You'll know when."

Melissa heaved a diva-like sigh. "Oh, okay."

She had a lot of interest in the Bailey twins, but upon realizing that it would be even more time before they made their debut, her interest ran its course. There were other things to do. So, Melissa released herself of Olivia's hold and skipped out of the room.

Casey helped Olivia make herself at home.

Everyone was in the living room. Nestled in one corner was a decent-sized tree, around which were the remains of used wrapping paper strewn about, although Senior was in the process of cleaning it up. Sophia went to help him. Savannah sat down in one of the cozy overstuffed armchairs near the radiator with a new copy of the former First Lady's autobiography. Melissa and Abigail sat near other, playing with new toys. Casey decided to join them. Olivia took a seat on the couch.

Violet sat beside her. "How has your day been?"

Olivia grinned. "Simply the best."

"That's wonderful."

Senior sat on Olivia's other side, having finished of disposing of the wrapping debris. "I'm happy for you that your day has been so great."

"It reminds me that happy endings are possible, no matter how long the wait." Olivia reflected.

"I agree. We have stories for days about that."

"Do we ever." Violet confirmed. "We also understand waiting for each other. You know that Augustín served in Vietnam, right?"

"Yes." Olivia nodded. "I also know about the helicopter, and how many times it crashed."

Violet sighed. "I was newly pregnant with Casey when Augustín left for that last tour, a few weeks further along when I was informed of the last crash, and then six weeks out from having Casey when we found out that Augustín was even alive."

Olivia had never heard this part of the story before. "Wow."

"I waited for less than a year to hear anything about Augustín, but it still felt like an entire lifetime."

"And would you do it again?" Olivia asked softly.

"In a heartbeat because it led to today: us here with you and them." Violet gestured to everyone else, each still occupied in their activities. "I wouldn't change a thing."

"Neither would I." Senior added. "I would also do all of it again. In a heartbeat."

Melissa chose that moment to sidle up to them before Olivia could respond.

She spoke very sweetly to Olivia, in the tone of buttering one up. "Nana?"

"Yes, princess?"

Melissa giggled again. "Can I ask you something? Or are you still talking with Nana Violet and Papa Gus?"

"You can ask me anything you want to." Olivia held Melissa's little hands in hers. "What do you want to know?"

"What's in the bag by the tree?"

Olivia had eyes only for Melissa. "Presents for everyone in this room. Will you help me hand them out?"

Melissa lit up and didn't even notice as the bag changed hands until it made its way over to them. Everyone gathered around.

"Yes!" the toddler crowed. "I will help!"

Olivia handed her a parcel from the top of the bag. "Check this one out."

Melissa did her best to sound out the name Olivia pointed to. "A— Abi— Abig— Abigail?"

"Yep! Go find her!"

The little girl was extremely bright, but sometimes she forgot who on the Novak side belonged to what name because there were so many of them.

But she figured it out.

She walked right up to Abigail. "Here you go!"

Abigail made a big deal for her little friend's benefit. "That's right! Can I get a high-five?"

Melissa happily high-fived her, trilling when she didn't miss. "What now?"

"See if you can figure out the rest, okay? You can come sit next to me when you're done and we can open our presents together."

Melissa just about worshipped the ground that Abigail Novak walked on, so any extra invitation to sit next to her sounded enticing. She was quick to follow through on the suggestion.

The gifts were distributed in record timing.

DING!

A text alert from Alex interrupted a conversation Olivia had been having with Casey.

Are you still at the Novak place?

Olivia responded promptly. I am. Did you need something?

The response was lightning-fast. Noah keeps blowing kisses to pictures of Melissa. Is she there?

Yep. So are the rest of the flower shop Novaks.

Noah misses Melissa. So do I. Please tell the Novaks that our door is open.

Let's invite them over. Lunch? Cookie baking?

Olivia looked up to see her family watching her curiously.

"That was from Alex—she and Noah really want to see Melissa." she told them. "We're going to make lunch and have a cookie baking session after. Anyone want to come to my house?"

Melissa stood at once and cried, "Be right back, nana!" before hurrying out of the room. Sophia was on her heels.

Abigail spoke next, almost surprised. "Does that mean I can come?"

Olivia winked at her. "You sure can, and you bring along whatever you want."

"Okay. I have one more question—when we get to your house, can I hold Serena? Please?"

"If she's awake and in a good mood, I don't see why not."

Abigail cheered and also left the room.

"Careful, baby girl!" Casey called after her. "That's the closet—"

THUD!

Abigail promptly walked into the closet door. She was in La La Land. Sighing, Senior went to help her.

Olivia looked at Casey. "What just happened?"

"Our sweet Abigail Hope has been bumming out lately that she's going to be our parents' last child." Casey sighed out of pity. "She just doesn't know yet that a cheer-up gift is coming from ma and pop in the form of a kitten on Valentine's Day."

"And her first reaction to being able to hold Serena is to accidentally walk into a closet door. Amazing." Olivia turned to Savannah, who had been watching them. "Would you like to come over, too?"

Savannah stood and stretched. "I'm actually about to head out to Queens for a few hours. Thanks, though."

"Of course. Have a good time."

The young woman was almost out of the room when Casey called, "Savannah and Maureen, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Savannah didn't say anything as she left the room, but only because she was blushing something fierce. Leave it to her sister to her blurt that announcement out. At least it was the truth.

Olivia stared at Casey. "Your sister, and Elliot's firstborn?"

"They've been together since the fall. It's just been on the down-low." Casey gave Olivia a pat on the arm. "Soph and I are going to have to decline your invitation, too, by the way."

"I understand. Make the most of your first Christmas together."

Olivia looked over at Violet. She was tidying up the living room a little more, but had an answer at the ready.

"Thank you for the invitation, but Augustín and I are going to go to our church on the next block to light candles. It's been our tradition since we were in primary school."

Violet then spoke directly to Casey. Their entire conversation was in Slovak.

Olivia didn't understand any of it, but she had herself a chuckle when Casey protested to what sounded like a veiled threat from her mother. This was followed by Violet responding with an arched eyebrow and a fist shake.

"What was that?" Olivia asked when they were finally alone.

Casey turned red. "First, Violet wants to know if you are still game for going out to Tiffany's place in Hunters Point for the Christmas party."

"We're all game. Even Harper—she really doesn't want to be alone."

"I don't blame her, what with being due soon, but I already know that everyone else will pamper her. Violet also said to come around to the house at six."

"Alright, but what was her threat?"

Casey's blush deepened. "Violet wants for us to also be there early so you all can have some familiar faces."

"Your big sister is your spitting image, if I recall."

"There were jokes forever before Savannah was born that my parents had somehow managed to have three sets of twins." Casey rolled her eyes. "Ma shook her fist at me because she's going to start telling embarrassing childhood stories about me if we leave too early."

Olivia smirked. "I might just have to take her out for drinks to pry that information loose. We're practically related by now."

Not too tickled by the idea of her own mother getting liquor in her system while in the company of her future mother-in-law, Casey immediately moved to a new topic. A better one.

"Sophia said she told you about the wedding date, but do you want two more tidbits about our future plans?"

"Yes, please." Olivia said eagerly.

"We want to do London and Paris for our honeymoon, and when Melissa's in school, we're going to pick up our violins again. Maybe even try out for the New York Pops."

Olivia hugged her. "Those are wonderful goals, and I really hope they happen!"

"Thanks, Liv." Casey pointed to the phone still in Olivia's hand. "I'm going to make sure that Scrappy and Melissa haven't totally distracted each other; they've been inseparable all morning. Why don't you tell your wife what's what?"

"Alright."

Olivia returned to her texts.

Violet, Senior, Sophia, Casey & Savannah each have plans, she sent.

So we're getting Melissa & Scrappy? was Alex's reply.

We are.

Noah is going to be beside himself with joy when I tell him.

I can already picture it. See you soon xoxo