Chapter Twenty-three

Jack turned his attention back to his paperwork again, "I don't have time for this, Jamal."

"Well. Make some. That was rude, man. The girl has no idea Ali's playing matchmaker. You didn't need to do that to her. Plus - she's hot." Imani smacked him on the arm. Jamal winked at her as he added, "Not as hot as you, baby - but she's damn cute." He focused on Jack again. "What the hell's the matter with you!?!"

Jack shrugged. "Nothing. Just leave me alone." He gazed at Imani, who he knew was going to try just like Ali. He could see it in her eyes. "All of you."

"Jamal. Stop pushing him." Imani came between them to referee. "Jack. You have the right to not want to rush into anything. You have a right to want to take your time - and I respect that."

"I don't. He doesn't know what he wants..." Jamal interjected.

"Jamal!!" Imani warned. She placed her hand gently on his arm. "Melissa's really sweet - Jack. If you change your mind - maybe we could all go out sometime. But you tell us when. No pressure."

"No pressure." Jamal said in a huff. As he went on - Jack's expression got more and more tense. "He needs pressure. He denies it but it's obvious that the dude's still hung up on that mess - Livvie."

"Jamal. Back off. I'm warning you." Jack's voice was dangerously calm.

"I'll back off. I'll back way off. You want to be miserable for the rest of your life. That's fine with me. I'm just not going to watch." He turned and walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

*************

"Well. You look happier than the last time I saw you." Rafe said with a smile as Abby and Cam walked downstairs.

"I am." She said as she gazed up at her husband, who couldn't resist giving her a kiss. "We are."

"Your eye looks better too." Rafe observed. "But do me a favor, alright? Duck next time?"

"That's the magic of makeup. It works wonders. Oh - and don't worry - I'm signing up for class today." She laughed. Abby's voice got serious. She didn't want to waste any more time. "I don't want to ruin such a beautiful morning - but we really should talk about what's going on." She looked around, spying one of Katrina's toys on the counter. "Oh! Is Alison here?" Abby continued.

"She's not here." He said quietly.

"Rafe?" Cam asked.

"She doesn't know yet." He admitted.

"You didn't tell her?!?!" Abby said, shocked.

Cam chuckled from beside her. He curled an arm around her and brought her closer. "You really don't want to start that with him do you?"

"Point taken." Abby sighed. "But - Rafe. She needs to know."

"I know. I know." Rafe paced the length of the gym and then turned to face them. "I just -- she looked so happy last night and then again this morning. She said she wasn't going to let this stuff bug her and I - I know it's probably a mistake - but I couldn't do it. I just..."

He seemed so distraught and Abby knew just the type of guilt he was holding now. "OK. OK." She said as she moved to get him to stop pacing. " We'll fill her in later. I still think we need to set up some sort of game plan."

"You're right." Rafe said with a sigh. "We do - and before it's too late."

***************

Alison's hands gripped the handle of the stroller tightly. "I didn't know you were back."

Livvie wasn't buying it. "You mean your sister didn't warn you?"

Alison's voice was full of shock and more than a little hurt. "Abby knows?"

"Yes. She knows. Don't give me the Little Miss Innocent act. And I think I made my point to her - but you should remind her that she should keep her snooty mouth shut."

"OK, Livvie. Sure. I'll do that." Alison didn't want to do this. She was so tired of fighting with her, of fighting with anyone. She wondered if Abby was the only one who knew. Did Rafe know too? Her heart sank and she had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Why wouldn't he warn her? She couldn't think about it now. Now - she simply wanted to go home.

"Please excuse me." She said as she moved to walk past.

"I'm not finished with you." She said as she blocked her path.

Alison began to get angry.

"NO? Too bad. I'm more than finished. I'm done - Livvie. You want to blame me for all your problems - for your misfortune - for the fact that you fell in love with a monster and he destroyed every once of good in you then FINE. You go ahead and do that. Just leave me and my family alone while you do it."

Her nemesis laughed bitterly. "You really think I'm just going to let you leave?"

"Livvie - do you hear yourself? Like you have any choice. I'm going." Alison pushed the carriage to try and get past her.

Livvie stood directly in her path - keeping Alison from going on her way.

Alison sighed. "Do you really want to do this?"

Livvie didn't answer - just stared at her.

"Aren't you tired of this? Don't you want to move on? You really want a fight that badly - Livvie? I feel sorry for you because you won't get one from me. The only person you'll be fighting - the only one you've ever really been fighting - is yourself. I've got much more important things to do."

There was truth to Alison's words, and hearing them made her even more angry.

Just then, Katrina started to cry.

Alison looked down at her daughter, her voice soft and soothing. "Shh. Sweetie. I'm sorry. I know. It's OK. We're going. We'll see Daddy in a few minutes."

As she said the words she was positive that Katie was the only one who truly wanted to see Rafe at the moment. Alison was sure she didn't want to lay eyes on him anytime soon. She was hurt and confused and angry at both him and Abby too. Why didn't they tell her Livvie was back? Despite her earlier intentions, she decided not to go to the gym to see him now. She was just going to take Kate home.

Alison tried once again to pass Livvie to no avail. "Livvie. Stop." She pleaded. "Just let us go."

"Look at her." Livvie was staring into the carriage. "She's so beautiful Ali." She said softly.

"We like to think so." Alison replied, still very anxious to leave. She could never trust Livvie and she just wanted to be home.

Something in Livvie's demeanor softened as she gazed at Kate. "How old is she?" She asked.

"6 weeks. She was born on Valentine's Day." Alison whispered as she tucked a blanket around her daughter.

"Of course. Isn't that just perfect?? Just like everything else in your life."

Alison had had more than enough now. "Perfect Livvie? My life has been far from perfect. Let me give you a little recap of what YOU have done to me - because I honestly don't think you get it."

Livvie wore a bored expression - as if she couldn't care less.

"You tried to take Rafe from me and frame me for murder. When that didn't work you murdered him right before my eyes. Then - your horrid excuse for a boyfriend had his fun with us too. And you know what? That's fine. If that's the sick, twisted way you get your kicks - good for you. You tried to destroy us and if you want to - go ahead - try again - we've beaten you both before - we'll beat you again. I'm not scared of you Livvie. I pity you - because you have lost all sense of reality. You actually believe your own lies. You've created this situation for yourself and you can change it - but I don't think you're strong enough."

Alison gazed down at her daughter, rocking the stroller back and forth - mostly to keep herself calm. As she looked at her she realized there was one more thing she had to say.

She tore her eyes from Katrina and stared right into Livvie's. Her voice was soft but far from kind as she finished.

"Go ahead Livvie - try - but I'm warning you. I have never been more serious. You even think about harming my daughter you won't have to worry about Rafe because I swear to you - I'll kill you myself."

Honestly, Livvie was stunned. Imagine. This is what she'd become. This was what people saw when they looked at her - someone who might actually harm a tiny little baby. Her tough exterior began to crumble. When did everything go so wrong? She and Alison were once the best of friends. How did it ever come to this? The worst thing was - every single word Alison spoke was the truth. And what they said was completely accurate.

The truth hurts.

Tears welled in Livvie's eyes and suddenly, Livvie's complexion got extremely pale. She tried to move out of Alison's way, but stumbled and almost sank to the ground.

"Livvie? Are you OK?" She grabbed Livvie's hand and helped her to sit on the bench nearby .

"I'm fine." She snapped back, holding a hand to her head. She sat down, starting to shake. "I'll be fine in a minute."

Alison stared at her. She couldn't believe her eyes. As she did - she had a sudden revelation.

She recognized the look on Livvie's face. It wasn't that long ago she had looked the very same way herself.

"Oh my God. Livvie?" Alison asked, her voice extremely gentle. "How far along are you?"