Let It Go Ch. 7
"I've been to the beach before," Noah stated as skipped along the sand, holding Alex's hand.
"You have?"
"Yep, I've been to Rocks-away beach and Coney Island. But there were a lot more people at those beaches than there is here."
"Yeah, this one can be pretty quiet, especially in the morning. But more people will come out and play as the day goes on."
"I like it with less people."
"Well I agree, it's peaceful."
"Yeah, peaceful," Noah repeated.
"Ok, you ready to make our way back towards the house? We can kick around the soccer ball in the sand there?" Alex offered.
"Let's go!" Noah said as Alex made a quick, jerking u-turn making Noah laugh.
"Alex, what is the name of this ocean?"
"This is the Atlantic Ocean."
"What the name of the ocean in California?"
Alex grinned to herself, at his stream of conscious questions.
"That is the Pacific ocean."
"Do you have a house at the Pacific ocean too?" Noah asked looking up at her, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand.
"No baby I don't."
"Have you ever been there?"
"I have, lots of times!
"Can you take me and my mom to visit there one time?"
Alex smiled, "well we would have to ask your mom if she'd like to go first."
"I know she would want to go, she loves the ocean!"
"She does, does she?" Alex asked storing that information away.
Olivia woke up to silence and alone.
Noah hadn't climbed into bed with her in the early morning hours, no sound of cartoons coming from the living room, no sounds of garbage trucks and car horns… just the ceiling fan buzzing above her.
She sat up looking around at the sunshine-filled room, by the clock on the bedside table, there was a note written in familiar script revealing why everything was so quiet.
The note let her know that Alex and Noah were headed for a walk on the beach and that she was sleeping so peacefully they didn't want to disturb her.
Olivia couldn't help but smile at the somewhat surprising relationship between her son and Alex.
Olivia laid back down staring at the ceiling, the ceiling fan above her, she watched it circle round and round. Her mind immediately went to last night. Kissing Alex, touching her, the way Alex made her come… She couldn't believe it had happened between them. Olivia closed her eyes with her thoughts. She hadn't, God, she hadn't… It had been a long time since she felt like that, and she wasn't certain if she had ever felt that, connected with anyone, much less wanting someone so much that it was jubilant and almost painful.
She opened her eyes again with the hopeful thought of being able to kiss Alex again. She had no regrets.
Olivia got out of bed throwing on shorts and a t-shirt, twisting her hair up in a clip. She went downstairs to see that there was no coffee so she made some for her and Alex to take with her to the beach. Olivia wondered if Noah kept Alex from her coffee time, and an all-important scroll through the New York Times on her iPad this morning.
Olivia made her way down the wooden planked path, the sun already shining brightly. She looked to see Alex kicking a soccer ball back and forth with Noah and smiled instantly at the sight of them.
Noah and Alex both dressed in shorts, t-shirts, and baseball caps, concentrating hard on their one-on-one game.
Alexandra Cabot was full of surprises, the way she caught and then kicked the ball skillfully back to Noah.
"Mom!" Noah yelled seeing her his mom coming down the wooden steps.
"Good morning you two!"
Noah came running to Olivia, remnants of smeared suntan lotion on his arms.
"Hey, bud!" Olivia giving him a quick hug and a kiss. "You two already in the middle of a soccer game?"
"We took a walk, now we're just playing around."
"Ah, I see, well I hate I missed the walk on the beach."
"You were sound to sleep. So Alex said to let you sleep that you served it."
Olivia was translating what her son had said as Alex walked up.
"Good morning," Olivia said, her tone different than the one she had for Noah.
"Good morning."
Noah stood between the two of them, looking up at them sensing something, but nothing he could be bothered with.
Olivia licked her lips, "I uh, I wasn't sure if you had your coffee yet, so I uh…" Olivia held up the mug of coffee.
Alex let out a little laugh, "Thank you, no I haven't. More important things to do…," she said taking the mug.
"Alex?"
"Yeah, bud?" She said, absentmindedly adopting the name Olivia used for him as she found it hard to take her eyes from Olivia.
"Can I have the soccer ball back now?"
They both laughed at his sudden boredom with the two of them and Alex handed him the ball and he was off to play.
"Thanks again for the coffee, we were up…" Alex was interrupted by Olivia kissing her.
Alex grinned, taking a moment to saver it, "so it wasn't a dream?"
"I had to be sure, because last night..."
Alex leaned kissing Olivia again quickly. "I wanna kiss you a million more times."
Olivia grinned, "and with everyone, I'll wish for one more."
Alex put her hand to her chest mimicking her heart beating before suggesting she and Olivia sit in the sand. Now sitting close, Alex locked her arm with Olivia's as they watched Noah play.
"All of these years, how did I not know about your soccer skills?"
"Eh, I played on the Lady Eagles soccer team in Jr. High and High School and I played on a co-ed league just for fun at Harvard.
"Impressive."
"I wouldn't exactly say impressive, but I do think my chance at becoming a soccer star was cut short when my father agreed that it only looked good on my college applications as an extra circular activity, but there was no way I would play in college as it would interfere with my studies."
"A dream cut short," Olivia teased dramatically.
"Tell me about it."
"Still I'm surprised you never told me you played."
"Well, I have to keep some things to surprise you! And even if it could have come up at Noah's soccer game, I was a little overwhelmed by the multitude of children to even think to mention it!"
"Fair enough, you should have seen me the first time I took him to soccer or any group activity. I was overwhelmed myself. It's an experience… Oh. but now that he knows you're a soccer player he's never going to let that go. Just warning you…"
"That's OK, that can be our little thing," Alex said grinning.
"Noah! Don't go too far! Stay where mama and Alex can see you!" Olivia yelled, her back straightening while she waited for Noah's response.
Noah just waved letting her know that he had heard her but never stopped kicking the ball rather made a circle back.
Alex watched Olivia's spine relax.
"He told me you loved the ocean," Alex said as quiet came between them. "He asked would I take you and him to the Pacific ocean one day."
Olivia swallowed the small lump in her throat. "Bold of him to just ask you to take us, but he really is such a thoughtful boy."
"Hmm bold and thoughtful... I bet he gets that from his mama."
Olivia smiled, before taking another sip of her coffee.
"So have you had time to think any more about what you're gonna do when you come back to the city? You are coming back to the city?"
"Yes, I'm coming back!" Alex assured her.
"Well, I'm not sure Noah and I are," Olivia teased. "It's pretty great here."
"I'm glad you guys are happy here. And we can come back here anytime."
We
"But yeah I've thought about it a lot the past few weeks, and after going rouge for a few years I've put out a few feelers to see if the DAs office would have me back."
"They would be crazy not to have you back. And you loved being an ADA... you had goals of becoming DA."
"I don't know if that goal is still insight for me," Alex said, now sitting her coffee mug in the sand.
"Are you kidding? You could easily jump back in, you fast track everything you do!"
"And look where it got me?"
"Looks pretty good from here." Olivia joked looking out over the ocean. "Life happens Alex," she said now more seriously.
"But it wasn't happening when I was ADA." Olivia looked at Alex as she explained. "I was so caught up in working, and winning, and getting to the top. I was alone because I couldn't have the person, the woman I wanted," She said bumping Olivia's shoulder, "because of my career and then the next thing you know I'm lying on a sidewalk on the Lower West Side. The one thing I do know is I'm not going back to what I was doing. It just got too dangerous and I couldn't separate my personal life from trying to help those women and children… And I know now that can't happen.
"Alex, you are brilliant and courageous and there are so many people that could benefit from your knowledge and skills…"
"Will you help me write my resume?" Alex joked.
"HA! I don't think Alex Cabot needs a resume."
"Liv, I am coming back to the city. I want to go back, I mean if you're not still here," Alex chuckled. "If you're in the city, whatever city, I want to be there."
"So damn charming Cabot," Olivia said leaning against Alex's ear.
Alex raised her eyebrows back and forth as Olivia laughed.
"Alex! Hey Alex!" A woman in a white tennis skirt and blue spandex top yelled Alex's name repeatedly as she made her way towards them.
Olivia was slightly annoyed at her shrilling voice, but Alex seemed at ease with her presence.
"Hi Maggie," Alex said standing, and Olivia followed.
"Well hello there I'm Alex's neighbor, Maggie Albritten," the woman said not giving Alex the chance for an introduction. "We live just down the road from Alex."
"I'm Olivia," Olivia said extended her hand politely, shaking the tan dark hairs woman's hand.
"Oh, Alex told me you and your son were coming to visit. I'm so glad she's not in that big house all by herself!"
Alex was now standing behind Maggie enough to roll her eyes at Olivia.
"Well, Noah and I were happy to oblige when she invited us out…"
"That so sweet, and speaking of invites, Bob, my husband, and I are having an impromptu barbeque tomorrow evening. I know its quick notice, but we just wanted to get the neighbors back together and catch up and since you are here, and Ms. Olivia and Noah of course, we would love for you to come by, have a drink, a hot dog, there will be plenty for the kids." Without taking a breath, Maggie looked at Olivia, "I have 4 kids. Two older, two younger... my youngest's are around Noah's age so he will have a ball."
Olivia looked to Alex for an answer and Alex smiled before she spoke up. "Maggie what can we bring?"
"Oh, nothing! Just you're beautiful selves."
Alex looked at Olivia and the smirk on her face knowing Olivia was now fully entertained. "We'll be there."
"Perfect, 6:00."
"Thanks, Maggie for thinking of us."
"Of course, Olivia. I'll see you all tomorrow night," she said before speed walking the best she could back down the beach.
"That was... wow," Olivia's eyes were wide.
"She's harmless… definitely high strung, but harmless. And, her husband tells good dirty jokes."
Olivia laughed.
"Well, that should be fun."
"Of course… How about we go dip our toes in the water and then we go on to town for brunch. I want everyone to see me with you," Alex joked.
"There's that charm again," Olivia said not thinking twice about intertwining her fingers with Alex's as they walked towards Noah and the water.
They had brunch and decided to shop a bit before heading back to the house. Alex wanted to treat Olivia and Noah to dinner at one of her favorite Italian restaurants, but they had the day to do whatever they wanted with time to get ready before their 7 PM reservation.
They strolled through a string of shops, Alex had run into some (much calmer) friends that were happy to see her back in the Hamptons and Olivia caught one friend giving Alex a wink and nudge. When Olivia inquired what that was all about, Alex playfully rolled her eyes and mocked, 'it was him letting me that he was impressed I was with someone so beautiful."
They had picked up two bottles of wine, stopped at a toy shop, Noah picking out a puzzle they would put together later. Then, they made their way into a little dress shop, that definitely had higher price clothing than Olivia was used to for her Police Captain wardrobe, but Alex seemed to like the store, and Olivia didn't mind browsing all the beautiful clothes.
"Liv, Alex said holding up a turquoise, silk dress.
"Ohh I love that!" Olivia said her eyes wide as she examined the dress.
"This would look absolutely amazing on you!"
Olivia walked towards Alex, running her hands down the fabric. Glancing at the price of the dress.
"This color with your eyes… you should try it on!"
"What? No, I'm…"
"Just try it on! Please? For me?" Alex pretended to pout.
"Really Al," Olivia said rolling her eyes as she made her way to the dressing room.
Alex said in the chair, Noah Leaning against her, her arms around him. They were giggling about something, waiting somewhat patiently for Olivia to reappear from the dressing room.
When Olivia came out, both Noah and Alex stopped laughing, looking at her.
"Wooooow!" Noah said looking at his mom.
"Wow is right, you look so beautiful," Alex said, her eyes canvassing Olivia's body. She made the gesture for Olivia to spin around. "Liv, it was made for you!"
"Yeah, mom you look beautiful."
"You are both so sweet, thank you," Olivia said trying to take the compliment.
After their "ohs" and "ahs" Olivia went back into the dressing room to change, but not before admiring herself again in the dress. When she came out, Olivia handed the saleswoman the dress back.
"Aren't you getting it?" Alex asked puzzled.
Olivia looked at Alex, incredulously, "Alex did you see the price of that dress?"
Alex shook her head, "I'm sure what every the price, you are more than worth it! Let me get it for you, please."
"You are not my sugar mama," Olivia said jokingly, but quietly.
"No," Alex said, standing closer, "but I am in love with you, and I want you to have it." Then Alex whispered into Olivia's ear, "and I really want to take it off of you."
Olivia smiled, biting her lip.
Damn Alex Cabot.
But Olivia's face went serious again, "Alex"….
When Alex wasn't budging, Olivia tried to make her case. "It's a very beachy dress, I wouldn't wear this in the city…"
"So you'll wear it when you're here, or when we go to the Pacific ocean. she grinned.
"It's absurd for you to not have a dress you look that ravishing in," Alex said sincerely.
Olivia just shook her head, she wasn't going to win this one.
"Ma'am?" Alex called, as she grinned walking past Olivia, "We'll take that dress"!
Olivia just sighed, as a giddy Alex got her way. She walked towards the counter, where Alex was paying and Noah was peering over the counter.
"Thank you," Alex said to the clerk before turning to Olivia holding out the dress now hung in clear plastic.
Olivia took the dress, "thank you. I really do love it. And I'll wear it for you tonight," she paused, to dinner." She grinned, taking Noah by the hand, leaving Alex momentarily lost in the thought of the night ahead.
