Chapter Thirty-nine
She whirled on him as they entered the hotel room. "There is no need to taunt him like that. Sometimes I wonder just who is the child here."
"Olivia…" He sighed.
"I mean it. You sent him that note to let him know we're on our way - but somehow I don't think it said "Colin, your mother and I are coming for a visit. Take care, see you soon."
She was right of course, but somehow Caleb didn't think that discussing what it actually had said would be the best idea at the moment.
"Olivia. Can we talk about something else? Is there something you want to do or see while we're here?" They had stopped in London on their way to New York. Caleb had plans to make and needed a little bit more time to put them in motion.
"No." She said as she crossed the room and stood to stare out at the city lights below.
"No?" He asked, surprised.
"No. I just want to get some rest. I'll need it to keep the two of you from tearing each other to shreds." She said as she moved to lie down.
"We wouldn't have this problem if your son would just accept the life he's been given." Caleb said with a shrug.
Livvie sat up and stared at him. "Do you remember when he was born?"
Of course he did. Caleb thought to himself. Caleb nodded as he moved to sit beside her. "Yes."
"When he was born, you were so proud. You were so excited. When he was little he thought the world of you. And then - in an instant it seemed - it all changed."
Caleb remembered the day it happened. That awful moment when his son's face filled with disgust. "It changed when I told him who we are." He said softly.
"I know." Livvie sighed. "And you know that he doesn't want that life. You can't force him - Caleb."
"I can." Caleb promised. "I just might."
Livvie couldn't believe her ears. She pushed past him, her eyes glittering with fury. "If you do that - if you even think about it again, I promise you you'll lose me too."
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"How long had you known?" Alison asked Abby as she stocked the case in the bookstore with the day's worth of baked goods.
"Ali - let me do that. You look so tired." She said, avoiding the subject.
"I'm almost done. I have to get home. I don't want to leave Rafe and Katie for too long." She sighed heavily. "At the same time - I don't think I can take it if they start to fight again." She said, her voice quivering a bit.
"Alison. Please sit down for a second." Abby grabbed a stool and made her do just that. It was still early and the shop wasn't open yet. "C'mon. You're worrying me."
"Yesterday was quiet but they started again this morning. She's hysterical and he's beside himself. I understand why he's so crazed but he's going to push her away Abby. I'm going to lose her." Alison wiped a tear away. "I'm sorry." She apologized as she reached for a napkin. "I'm so emotional lately. I can't stop crying."
Alison looked awful. She was pale and drawn and was shaking with nerves. "Did you see this coming - Abs?"
"In a way." She admitted. "I learned who Colin really was. Lynnie and I - we saw something about to happen."
"I don't think Katie knew until it was too late." Alison said softly. "I don't think she found out who he was until after she'd fallen for him."
"I don't think so either." Abby agreed.
"Maybe this is how this will all be resolved. Rafe and I, all of us, have lived our lives waiting to see if it'll start again. We've learned to push it way back in a far corner of our minds but it was always there, nagging away at us. Maybe Kate and Colin - maybe the two of them together is the answer."
"Maybe." Abby's heart was hopeful that her sister was right. She still looked so pale though and it worried her. "Ali? Let me drive you home, OK?"
"I'm fine." Alison insisted as she rose to leave, trying to deny how dizzy she felt.
Alison sank back down and clutched the edge of the counter. Abby definitely noticed. "Please? It'll make me feel better."
Knowing her sister was right, Alison nodded as she let Abby lead her out the door.
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"Are you two ever going to speak to each other again?" Grant asked.
"What?" Rafe replied, distracted. Alison wasn't home and Kate was ignoring him.
"Are you going to stay mad at Kate forever?"
Rafe sighed. "No. I'm not."
"You could've fooled me." His son replied.
Rafe glared at him." I'm not in the mood for your smart remarks today - Grant. Don't test me."
"Too bad." Grant countered. "I need to say something."
Rafe's eyes widened with surprise. His son wasn't usually so defiant. "You've got something you want to say? Then say it."
"I know what's making you so crazy about this. When it all came down the other day - I wanted to go and make sure that he never came within 10 feet of her ever again." Grant took a deep breath. "But then I realized that this is Katie we're talking about."
Grant continued. "I may be stronger than her but she's the one of us with the best instincts. Katie can read people better than anyone. Becky's heart is too huge - she only sees the good in everyone. I get too caught up in other stuff to sometimes see clearly - but Katie? Katie always knows who the 'enemy' is."
When did it happen? Rafe asked himself. When did this kid become so wise?
He placed his hand on his father's arm, squaring his shoulders and looking straight in his eyes. "She knows what she's doing Dad. She knows who he is and she loves him anyway. There's got to be a good reason for that."
Rafe was about to answer when he heard the door open and watched as Abby ushered Alison inside. His heart began to pound at the sight of her. Just another reason that he needed to resolve this thing with Kate quickly, he thought to himself.
"Alison?" He asked, his voice full of concern. "Abby? What happened?"
"It's OK. She's just a little dizzy." Abby said softly. "Has she eaten today?"
"I'm not sure." Rafe replied. "She was gone so early this morning I didn't notice."
"Hello?? I'm right here. Stop talking over me. If you want to know if I've eaten just ask." Alison snapped as Abby led her to the couch. "Newsflash for the both of you. I ate some toast before I left."
Rafe sat down beside her. "You need something more than toast." Rafe said as ran a hand over her cheek.
"If I try to eat more than toast it won't stay down." She replied, bringing a hand to her forehead and laying her head on a pillow.
"I've got to get back to the store. Get some rest, Ali - OK?" Abby said as she moved to go.
"OK." Alison whispered.
"Aunt Abs? Can you give me a ride to the gym?" Grant asked. He knew if he stayed here he'd just get in the way.
"Sure, sweetie. Let's go." She replied as she followed him out the door.
Rafe turned his attention to Alison. He knew they all had a point but was he the only one who remembered what Caleb was capable of? What if this was an elaborate plot to get to them again? Colin hadn't be turned, he knew that for sure - but Caleb had found a way to jam his radar before. When he came back as Stephen Clay his instincts went all out of whack.
He glanced at Alison again and sighed. Her eyes were closed and she looked like she was falling asleep. He pulled her feet onto his lap and rubbed a hand up and down her leg. "Angel? You need to take it easy. I'm really worried about you." He said softly.
Alison kept her eyes shut as she replied. "I'll be OK. I'm just so tired."
Rafe was wracked with guilt. He knew why she was exhausted. She spent all her time trying to explain this thing with Katie to him. Everything she said was true. He knew she was right. He had to stop this before it got too out of control.
"I'm going to fix this today, OK?" He said as he reached up and smoothed back her hair. "I don't want you to have to worry about it anymore. I'm going to fix it. I promise."
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He grabbed her arm and brought her back to him. His eyes bore into hers as he promised. "Olivia. You're not going anywhere. You know you can't ever stray too far from me. For many reasons but also for that fact that you'll need to feed eventually."
"I can find a meal on my own Caleb. I'm not that incompetent." She almost spat at him. "You know - I'm really thinking of just getting to Colin first - before you have a chance to hurt him again."
He walked to the door and held it open for her. "Be my guest."
"You don't think I'll go do you?" Livvie was getting angrier by the second. She moved to grab her bag. "He's my son - Caleb. I won't let you destroy him."
"What are you talking about?" Caleb slammed the door shut and leaned back against it. "I don't want to destroy him - I want him to join us. I want us to be a family."
"We were mortal when he came to be Caleb. If he wants to stay that way it's his choice. If you think he hates you now can you imagine what he'll be like if you force him to become something he so clearly despises?"
"If he denies his fate he's defying me." Caleb screamed at her.
Livvie let her bag slip to the ground. She brought her hands to her head and ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm so tired of this conversation. I'm not going to say this again. I want you to leave him be - Caleb. Let him live his life the way he wants to live it. If you force him I WILL LEAVE YOU." She yelled. "Are you ears working OK? Did you finally hear me that time?"
Her words bounced around in his head, the mere idea of living a life without her filling him with panic. "Olivia.." He said as he tried to catch his breath.
She swallowed and stared into his eyes, wanting to make sure he got it. "I left you once before Caleb - when you least expected me to. I'll do it again and you'll be helpless to stop me."