Olivia soon left the hospital for a few hours. There were other things that needed taking care of.
Her first stop was the Novak place. Noah and Serena were still there. Both were happy to see her, but completely content to stay under the watch of Casey's parents. (They were extra appreciative of the fresh supplies Olivia brought for the children) Olivia also tucked into a hot home-cooked meal. She was very thankful for this.
Olivia went about more practical tasks when she made it home. Doing laundry. Getting (some) sleep. Wearing clean clothes. Tidying up the house. Every little accomplishment counted.
Yet there still remained the task of procuring basic supplies for Amanda Sapphire. Olivia didn't want to do it alone.
But she still thought of the person to get hold of. And it happened through a video call.
The other person was very surprised to see her. "Everything alright? You've never used FaceTime to call me."
Olivia answered, "Everything is fine. Uh... I need a favor."
"Well, that's a first." Trevor said in amusement. "How can I help?"
"Supplies are needed for my littlest. Diana's twin. But I just need someone to make sure I don't do anything stupid. Or forget something."
"I'm your man. What is Diana's twin's name?"
"Amanda Sapphire Cabot."
There was then a brief pause in which Olivia studied Trevor. He was dressed casually and even sporting a messenger bag. It was also clear that he was at the courthouse.
"Did I catch you at a bad time?" Olivia asked.
"Not at all." Trevor told her. "It's my day off, but I had to bring some documents to Judge Preston. The rest of my family is busy for the day. Where are you? At your place?"
"I am. Alex told me to go feel like a person again and get some sleep. Did that. I've seen my middle kids, too." Olivia said. "Harper even dropped me a line about ten minutes back. She took the kids to a baby play group."
"Then that's that, huh?" Trevor checked his wristwatch. "Meet me at the mall? Twenty minutes by the main entrance?"
"Alright." agreed Olivia. "I can do that. See you soon. And many thanks."
Trevor grinned. "You're welcome. See you in awhile."
It took approximately twenty minutes for Olivia to reach the agreed upon destination and to find her friend. Trevor got there in a shorter time. He had utilized the subway. God bless New York City transportation. Such a convenience.
"Hey." Olivia greeted Trevor when she found him. "Were you waiting long?"
He shook his head. "Nope. I took the subway over here."
Olivia was taken aback as she did some quick math. "But if your car is at home, then that means you would have had to take the bus in, at the very least. Your neighborhood is an hour out from here on a fast day."
"Gold star for Olivia. Using public transport is actually something I do a lot." Trevor said with utter casualness. "Maisie despises it, which is really funny because she was born and raised in Hell's Kitchen."
"And what do your kids think?" Olivia asked curiously.
Trevor promptly rolled his eyes. "Both of them act like they're being tortured if so much as a taxicab is mentioned. Why are my children such divas?"
"You got me, Trevor." Olivia laughed. "Where are you from?"
He actually shuffled his feet. "A village on the northwest shores of Lake Michigan called Empire. Its last census clocked the population at three hundred and seventy-five. The place is actually just tiny enough that there's no point in having anything like a bus."
"Which explains why you don't mind what we have here. But... How on earth did you make it to New York City?"
"My twin sister Tuesday, and I, we wanted to stick it to our parents. They said there was no point in having big aspirations because we're from such a small place."
Olivia arched an eyebrow. "I bet that pushed yours and Tuesday's buttons."
"That's another gold star for Olivia. We packed up the week after high school graduation. Drove all the way here." Trevor said. "Now Tuesday is married with kids. Her family even lives on our block."
Olivia looked at Trevor in a new light. "How have I never known any of this before?"
"You just never asked." Trevor said with a shrug. "By the way, Tuesday is my best friend. She even set me up with Maisie for a blind date."
"Wow."
"And that's one word for it. How Tuesday met Maisie in the first place is a story best left for another day." Trevor held open the building door for Olivia. "After you."
The mall was huge and impressive. But it was also the only place that they could get most of the clothes shopping done for all of the children in her family. She and Alex and had found this out the hard way. Life with a big family was always interesting.
It only took a small amount of time into the beginning of their baby supply shopping for Trevor see that Olivia was very distracted.
He had always appreciated the how fast Olivia's mind worked. He also knew that there was more swirling around in it than usual at the moment. Yet... Trevor did not envy knowing that the sudden silence on his companion's part meant that she was thinking hard about one thought in particular.
"Olivia, watch yourself." Trevor said suddenly.
"Hm?"
But she stopped herself just in time when she noticed that was about to walk into a shop display.
"Whoa." Olivia gave her head a slight shake to readjust her self-awareness. "Good catch, Trevor."
"Was there an actual reason that you thought of me today?" he asked with concern. "Besides availability issues?"
Olivia sighed because she already knew the answer to this. And he had been correct. Where Trevor appreciated her thinking, she admired that he was a good listener. There was nothing for it but to talk about what was on her mind.
"I guess I just wanted someone to bear witness while I slow down." she admitted.
"That's understandable. Your life has been on more than a roll since October, but you've also closed as many doors as you have opened them. Is that what you're thinking?"
"Yes. What do you think?" Olivia looked straight into Trevor's face. "I guess I feel comfortable talking to you because even though we were far from friends when we met, we've come a long way. Now you're like a brother. Everything that's been happening has been a big season of change for all of us."
"You aren't wrong." Trevor said thoughtfully. "As for what I think, I'm impressed. God only knows where you'd be right now if you hadn't overcome all the hurdles that you have."
Olivia nodded. "My family as I know it would have never come to be. But now I can't imagine life without everyone I hold close."
Trevor continued to be thoughtful. "With all those doors I was talking about, there are also a lot of chapters that you had to end in order to get to where you are today, right this minute."
"Bingo. I just feel a little bit lost. Don't get me wrong—I love my life now. But I've never had this feeling. Peacetime has never felt so peculiar before."
"Hmm. I don't know the whole of what you're going through, but I do get what you're feeling about peace. Maisie does, too."
"How so?" inquired the lieutenant.
"Arjan was diagnosed with cancer when he was almost seven months old." Trevor spoke in a tone most vulnerable, so Olivia made no indication that she had heard even of a fraction of this ordeal before. "That period of my life and my marriage remains the hardest ever. A child sick in that way... It isn't anything we'd even wish on an enemy because it was pure hell."
"Oh, Trevor..."
He stuck his hands in his pockets. "All of the scary stuff is behind us now because Arjan has been in remission for a long time. We're so thankful. Our lives are by no means easy because we're older parents to two small kids, but we totally get being taken aback by feeling peace. Especially after a recovery from something so traumatic."
Trevor took a beat to study Olivia. She hadn't taken her eyes off him. He clearly had her complete attention.
If anyone was the right person to tell his impending secret, this woman was.
"We just learned that we're going to be parents again in the autumn."
Olivia's heart gave a tremendous leap of surprise at Trevor's announcement. She even hugged him.
"Congratulations!" Olivia looked on her friend with joy. "Does anyone else know?"
"Only my sister, your sister, and Sophia for now. They promised to keep our secret. Can we could on you to do the same?"
Olivia nodded as she thought also of the secret she was keeping for the Georgia kin. "Sure thing. It's very safe with me. When is Maisie due?"
"On October fourteenth."
Now Olivia had returned to feeling taken aback. "October fourteenth is exactly a week after Sophia's birthday. It's also the same day that she came back into my life this autumn."
"Yes." Trevor nodded. "November even makes a year since your sister showed up. And Serena. How's that for crazy?"
"Just wild." Olivia patted Trevor on one shoulder. "There's also the part where you and now Maisie have come through for us on many occasions. We made it through to this happy ending with help from the two of you. Don't think I haven't noticed."
Trevor gave Olivia a look of gratitude. "I do have one more thing I want to add. Our new little one is a much-longed for child because we've wanted a third kid for awhile now, but he or she is definitely our last."
Olivia nodded. "I also know that feeling."
"Maze and I are also getting old, but we've already agreed that if she has a girl, we're going to call her Atticus Rose."
"Those are Harper's and Sophia's middle names!" Olivia blurted.
"Correct. Harper and Sophia have made a mark on our lives, too. We're doing it for them." Trevor felt relieved when he saw Olivia visibly relax. "You see? Happy endings are possible. So is embracing them. All you have to do is just take it one day at a time."
"I really needed to hear that, Trevor. You're a great friend." Olivia gestured to their general surroundings. "This must be trippy at the moment."
"Only a tad. I'm also glad we're here because Maisie had a bad morning today, and I want to cheer her up with something like a new pair of baby shoes. Do you think that would be the ticket?"
"Yes." Olivia recalled once having done the same thing for her own wife on a particularly down day. "Maisie would probably really love that."
"Then I will keep my eyes pealed." Trevor motioned for Olivia to go before him once more. "Let's go see what we can find now."
Things passed by in a blur after that.
A high point was when Olivia finally felt she had the basics for baby Amanda. But she still had to restrain herself. Quite a lot of people would interested in the registry she had started. And Trevor? He was quite pleased with himself after he found a pair tiny little girl shoes. They were gold, with green hearts on them. He was obviously hopeful for his Atticus Rose.
But both friends departed the store feeling that a great many things had been achieved.
Trevor even helped Olivia bring her things in to her house. 'Gentleman' was truly the word about this man's personality.
He had one final thought after helping Olivia bring everything into her house. "I found some things while we were out that I hope you and Alex are going to like."
Olivia descended her front steps to the front sidewalk. "You did?"
Trevor nodded as he withdrew two items from his messenger bag. "Presents for Diana and Amanda, from Uncle Trevor."
He was holding out a stuffed turtle and a stuffed seal. Both new. Pristine. Ready to be loved.
"These are perfect. Alex will turn to mush when I show her." Olivia hugged her friend. "I'll also be sure to tell the girls about their Uncle Trevor and Aunt Maisie, who can't wait to meet them. Will you two stop by tomorrow? Please?"
And to Trevor's credit, he didn't miss a beat. "You bet. I'll drop you a line."
"Much obliged."
Then a light spring breeze blew through the air. It was just enough to bring Olivia back to reality.
She cleared her throat. "Trevor, is there some place I can drop you off?"
He shook his head. "No, but thank you. That's really kind. Go be with your family. There's a subway stop around the corner."
"You sure?" Olivia pressed.
"Yep." Trevor nodded and then waved as he began to walk away. "I'll be fine. Maisie and I will come around tomorrow."
Olivia gave her own parting wave. "Alright. See you then."
She watched him until he was out sight and then headed back inside her home.
A soft tune then filled Olivia's ears. It was Alex's ringtone. Fly Me To The Moon.
"Baby, how are you doing?" Olivia chirped in greeting when she answered the phone.
"I'm great. The nurse helped me bathe, and she gave me a new gown. I even slept for awhile. Now I'm only just a teensy bit less of a hot mess." Alex joked.
"Please." Olivia sassed lightly. "Alexandra, you just brought two babies into the world. You have every right to look and feel how you want. I mean it."
"Thank you, Via." Alex let out a shaky breath. "How are you? It's been a few hours..."
"Well, I checked on Noah and Serena. Even saw Melissa. Casey's mother also gave me a home-cooked meal." Olivia responded.
Alex arched an eyebrow. "Violet wouldn't let you leave until you had a hot meal at her table, huh?"
"Yes." chuckled Olivia. "It's abundantly clear who Cassandra inherited her tough love quality from."
"What did you do after that? Indulge me."
But Olivia wouldn't have denied Alex anything. "I came home, did a few chores, napped, and got cleaned up. Things are steady over here."
"Good. I'm glad." Alex told her sincerely. "Diana and Amanda have been in the nursery since right after you left. I know taking care of them is literally our job... but we also have take care of ourselves."
"Yes. We most certainly do." Olivia so appreciated her wife's moments of wisdom. "I also managed to get some shopping done."
She had texted Alex about this earlier in the day.
There was a small note of skepticism in Alex's voice. "You really called Trevor?"
"I did. Let's just say that he is a fine example of chivalry not being dead anymore. Diana and Amanda even have presents from Uncle Trevor now."
This caught Alex's attention. "What did he get them?"
"One stuffed animal each. Trevor and I even had something of a heart-to-heart. The short version there is that our baby daughters officially have a new uncle."
Alex's heart bloomed. "If there's Uncle Trevor, does that mean they have an Aunt Maisie, too? Will they be stopping by at some point?"
"Yes to both. Trevor promised to give me a head's up."
"Good. I can't wait." Alex's words were punctuated by a small yawn. "Violet called me a little while ago. She asked if they could bring Noah and Serena over when visiting hours begin. That's in an hour-and-a-half."
"Call her back and tell her yes." Olivia decided. "I'll be there very soon. You can even help add to the registry I started."
"I'm looking forward to that, too." Alex paused for a moment. "Olivia?"
"Yes?" came the warm reply.
"I love you."
Olivia's return was just as warm. "I love you, too. See you soon. Before you know it."
Olivia gathered everything she needed after the call ended, and secured the house before going back out. It was a miracle she didn't go over the speed limit.
But going to be with her family again was the absolute perfect way to end the day.
