It turned out that Olivia got off work earlier than she had expected, but she was avoiding going home. She went to the pool and had a long swim instead. She did get home by nine, opening the door with confidence.
This is my house, too, she repeated to herself.
"Hello?" She called out. Elliot met her in the front hall, kissing her softly. There seemed to be a glow underneath her skin.
"Hey. Have you eaten yet?" He asked. She was about to shake her head no when she caught sight of a face peeking out of an upstairs room, watching them. She smiled.
"Hi, Lizzie." The girl quickly withdrew into the room without answering. Olivia tried to shrug it off.
"There's some pizza left over if you want it," Elliot said, "I'm just in the middle of tucking the twins in."
"Okay," Olivia said.
Kathleen was sitting at the kitchen table, dressed entirely in grey. Her hair was pulled back in a stark bun and her eyes were surrounded by thick black makeup.
"Hi, Kathleen," Olivia greeted hesitantly. No response. "Kathleen...." Olivia said again. Kathleen looked up with a challenge on her face.
"Don't ever touch my stuff again," she responded with malevolance. It started Olivia.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Good. How do you think it makes me feel to come here, to my house, and have my dad's girlfriend in my stuff?!" Kathleen's voice was angry now, rising steadily.
"It wasn't like that...."Olivia began, but was cut off.
"Yeah, I know. I heard the whole story about your boxes and shit. Well, who asked me if it was okay for you to move in? Or Davy and Lizzie? None of us asked to live with you!" She spat out 'you' as if it was a disgusting thing. No doubt Elliot could hear the shouting, but he didn't come downstairs. Olivia felt utterly lost. She wasn't used to having teenage girls railing at her after a long day of work and no sleep. She decided to try a sensitive tack. She sat down across the table.
"I understand why you're upset. And I'm sorry that you got stuck in the middle of this. No one asked for any of this to happen...." Kathleen stood up sharply.
"I don't want to hear it," she said, then stormed upstairs and slammed the door.
What a wonderful start to the week, Olivia thought. She put her head in her hands. She wasn't hungry anymore. She trudged upstairs. Elliot was in the twins' room, reading to them. Since she'd see them in the morning, she didn't bother interrupting them. She crawled into bed and lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. Elliot came in a few minutes later, shutting the door behind him. He didn't know what he should say, so he didn't say anything.
"We picked up Armono Rodriguez, Carlos' brother, today," she said, sticking to work, a safe subject.
"What was his motive?" Elliot asked as he got changed, not really caring about the answer.
"His son inherits Carlos and Amanda's money in trust. Plus, we think he was banging Amanda." Elliot only nodded. Olivia continued, "Alex thinks she's got enough for the arraignment, but I've got to go to Connecticut tomorrow with Fin to check out some things." Elliot got into bed beside her and lay separately, in a similar position. His mind was on other things. They let the quiet descend around them. Then, Elliot voiced his thoughts.
"I'm really worried about Kathleen," he said quietly. Olivia rolled over to look at him, propping her head up with one arm.
"Uh-huh," she said.
"I'm sorry she yelled at you, Liv. But I can tell she's really sad and angry. It scares me." Olivia nodded, reaching a hand up to rest on his jaw.
"It's okay. I understand," she said, wanting to make him feel better. She couldn't tell her that Kathleen had devastated her. She was the adult, she had to be tough. "Weren't you ever that angry when you were a teenager? I sure was. Worse, probably." Elliot nodded.
"I'm not sure. I think I'll just try to, you know, be there for her. Let her know I love her." Olivia rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder and placed a reassuring hand on his chest.
"It'll be okay," she said.
*****
The next morning, Olivia was in the kitchen making coffee when Lizzie and Davy entered the kitchen, still in their pyjamas. Elliot was still asleep upstairs.
"We're hungry," announced Davy. Olivia turned around. She didn't want to wake Elliot up, since she was pretty sure he hadn't slept much.
"Okay. What do you want for breakfast?" She asked, "Is cereal okay?"
"Uh-huh," Lizzie said. Just then, Olivia remembered Davy's allergies.
"Davy, are you allowed to drink milk?"
"I dunno," he mumbled.
"He is," insisted Lizzie, "I remember. He drinks it all the time at home."
"Are you sure?" Olivia asked. Lizzie nodded emphatically.
"Don't you trust me?"
It was too early in the morning to argue. Olivia picked up two bowls and set them on the table with a box of cheerios and the milk carton.
" I have to go to work now, okay? So if you want anything else, you can go wake up your dad." The twins smiled at her and nodded politely. Crisis averted. She left the house in a good mood.
*****
She was in the car on the way to Hartford, Connecticut, when Elliot called on the cell.
"Benson."
"What did Davy eat this morning?" Elliot demanded. Fin could hear the loud voice through the phone, and he turned to look at Olivia, who looked confused.
"Cereal," she said, unsure of why he was so angry.
"With milk?!" He shouted.
Oh no.
"Yes.....Lizzie said....it was okay," she sputtered, feeling horrible at his anger.
"Lizzie," Elliot said shortly.
"Yes," Olivia said.
"You listened to a ten-year-old who has a habit of compulsively lying," he accused.
"How was I supposed to know?! You never told me that! I didn't want to wake you up!" She was shouting now, too. Fin glanced over.
"Face it, Olivia, you screwed up."
"I'm sorry! I didn't know!" She said.
"You can apologize to Davy when you get home. He's breaking out and throwing up. I'm taking him to the hospital."
"I'm sorry," she said again, nearly in tears, but he had already hung up. She shut the phone and shoved it in her pocket, face burning in anger. Fin opened his mouth to speak "Don't say a word," she snapped.