(See first part for disclaimer, notes, spoilers, etc.)
Chapter 29
With a splash of water, Olivia jerks away and gasps, "Gregory! What?…How?"
Gregory grins softly and whispers, "Just go with it Liv," as he pulls her back into him.
Olivia wraps her legs around Gregory's waist and rests her head on his shoulder, just enjoying the contact with him again. After a moment, she allows the tears that have been building up to slowly roll down her cheeks. Gregory soothingly rubs her back.
"Why are you crying?" he asks.
Olivia sighs and shakily responds, "I…I've just wa…wanted this for so long…I've forgotten how goo…good it feels to be in your arms."
Gregory gently eases Olivia's head off his shoulder and kisses away her tears. "Never forget again," he says between kisses, "that this is where you belong and never forget how much I love you." He tilts her head up slightly and kisses her neck.
Olivia arches her neck back further, allowing him greater access. She sighs with happiness, feeling more alive in this moment than in the three months she has been with Del. She snaps out of her reverie with thoughts of Del. "Oh god!…What about Del?" she asks.
Gregory pulls back and whispers, "Forget about him….He doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is you and I…here, in this moment." They kiss again with a passion that rivaled the early days of their relationship. Olivia lets herself go and invites Gregory's tongue further into her mouth as she…
…awakens with a start.
Olivia sits up quickly and searches the bathroom for any sign of Gregory's presence. She looks to the door and sees it's still locked. She touches her neck in the spot where she could still feel his lips. He WAS here, she thinks, wasn't he? She climbs out of the bathtub, wraps herself in a giant terrycloth robe and releases the bathwater before leaving the bathroom.
The bedroom was exactly the way she left it, minus Del's jacket. But there was no indication that Gregory had been there. And why would he come Olivia?, her conscience taunts. You left him….You had an affair with his best friend and you left him. Olivia nods her in agreement, as a tear rolls down her cheek.
"What have I done?" she sobs before collapsing onto the bed in tears.
Chapter 30
Caitlin and Gregory are sitting quietly at Grenadine's, waiting for their dinner.
"So Daddy," Caitlin asks after taking a sip of her sparkling water, "have you decided whether or not you are coming with me to Sean's graduation?"
Gregory takes a deep breath before responding, "Caitlin…I've already told you I am not going."
"That's what you said when I showed you the invitation. But, I know you didn't mean that," Caitlin grins sweetly when Gregory quickly looks up from his scotch. "Besides, even though he'll never admit it, Sean would be hurt if you didn't come."
"Oh I doubt that very much," Gregory snorts. "He hasn't been home once since your mot…Oliv…early January."
Caitlin sighs, knowing this will be difficult. "That's no different from any past school years. Even I rarely came home between Christmas break and the end of term…remember?"
"Well, you were busy with classes and getting good grades. You're brother is just concerned with goofing off."
"Did you even see Sean's mid-term marks, Daddy? He has all A's except for one B in 'A.P. British Literature.'"
Gregory slams his glass of scotch on the table, sloshing some onto the cuff of his suit. "What do you want from me Cait?"
"I want you to come with me to Sean's graduation," Caitlin says softly.
Gregory sighs deeply and stares at his daughter for a moment. "Fine," he concedes, "but just for the weekend!"
"Oh, of course," Caitlin agrees. "Just for the weekend. A quick weekend trip to New Hampshire and we'll be back before you know it." She picks up her crystal glass of sparkling water, clinks it with her fathers and says, "Cheers."
A few moments pass in silence before Gregory grudgingly asks, "Is 'she' going to be there?"
"Who? Mom?" Caitlin asks. Gregory gives Caitlin a look that says you know that's who I meant. Caitlin nods and says, "I don't see why she wouldn't be."
"Wonderful. Just what I need. A fun-filled weekend in New Hampshire with my ungrateful son and….oh lord," Gregory mutters as Bette Katzenkazrahi bustles over to their table.
"Greggy! How've you been? Still grumpy as ever I see," Bette chatters. "And Beauty, aren't you looking wonderful! You need to sweeten your sourpuss of a father up!"
"Hello Aunt Bette," Caitlin says as she stands to give her mother's oldest and dearest friend a hug. "How are you?"
"Faboo beauty. I think I may have found the newest hubby."
"Heaven help us all. Bette, have you warned the poor bastard about your track record?" Gregory snaps.
Bette turns to Gregory, sticks her tongue out at him, and turns back to Caitlin. She pulls her away from the table slightly and whispers conspiratorially, "So Beauty. Have you heard from your mother?"
Caitlin looks back over at Gregory before responding in hushed tone, "Yes. She calls about once a week. Have you spoken to her?"
Bette nods and whispers, "I don't think she is happy with that louse I call 'brother.' I think she regrets her decision."
Caitlin nods in agreement. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the waiter approaching with dinner. "Aunt Bette," she says, "I need to get back to my dad. I'll call you tomorrow and we can talk more about this."
"Ok Beauty. If you talk to your mother before I do again, tell her to give her old friend a call….and 'old' doesn't imply my age!" Bette says with a chuckle.
"Of course not," Caitlin smiles. "Bye Aunt Bette."
Bette kisses Caitlin on the cheek and says, "Take care of your dad. Your mother is going to want him healthy when she comes back to him."
Caitlin tears up and whispers, "How do you know they'll get back together?"
Bette winks at the young girl and says wisely, "Your mother and I have been friends for most of our adult lives. You don't think I know what she is going to do before she does?" With that statement, Bette pats Caitlin's cheek affectionately and goes back to her table leaving Caitlin with the hope that things just might work out after all.