(See first part for disclaimer, notes, spoilers, etc.)
Pt 4: "The Haunting of Olivia"
The black Lincoln Towncar cruises up the pebbled driveway like a shark gliding through the ocean.
"Is there anything else you'll be needing tonight, Mrs. Richards?" Bryan asks as he turns the engine off.
Olivia shakes her head as she opens the car door. "No, thank you. Have a good night." As she gets out and closes the door behind her, she stares up at the illuminated house. Strategically placed spotlights accent the door and windows, but cast shadows over other parts of the façade. She turns around as she hears another car pull into the driveway. With fascination, she watches as a young Gregory leads a younger version of herself out of the vehicle.
He carefully removed the silk fabric tied around her eyes. He stood behind her and whispered in her ear, "Welcome home, Liv." He smiled as she gasped at the sight in front of her. "What do you think of it?"
She shrieked in delight as she turned around and threw her arms around Gregory. "Oh, I love it!" she said breathlessly before kissing him passionately. "And I love you," she managed to say in between placing kisses on his face.
As young Gregory and Olivia fade away into the darkness, Olivia recalls something Gregory said to her four years ago as she walks through the front door.
"You deserved the best. And, nothing made me happier or more excited than the prospect of giving 'the best' to you."
The house is quiet and several of Trey's toys are scattered on the floor in front of the glass patio doors and on the sofa.
She cringes as she watches Gregory turn away from her in disgust.
"Where are you going?" she had snapped. "Off to one of your cheap little girlfriends?" He turned around quickly and stared at her. "It's alright for you to have as many affairs you want," she continued as she walked over to him, "but god forbid I should even look at another man!"
"You did a lot more than look, my dear," he interrupts, the anger rising in his face and tone.
"What is it that bothers you most? The fact that he was your best friend? Or that we did it…right here in this house! On this sofa! On that rug! In YOUR bed!"
Gregory pulled her to him forcefully, his hands grabbing onto the lapel of her gray and black suit jacket. He glared at her menacingly as she smacked her hands on his chest in an attempt to free herself from his grasp. His hand snaked around the back of her neck and he yanked her forward, with her resisting him every step of the way. She cried in protest as he pressed his mouth to hers. After several moments of struggling, she pushed him away and glared at him while breathing heavily. And just as quickly as she had pulled away, she advanced on him, pushing off his jacket as her lips melted onto his for a second time. She moaned as she started to pull off his tie. He threw her down on the sofa, his suit jacket followed a second later. He crouched over her, yanking off his tie and ripping open his shirt. She licked her lips in anticipation.
"Oh god," she moaned as she unhooked his belt.
Olivia bites her lip as she steps out of her heeled sandals. With a final glance around the still living room, she walks down the hall and slowly pushes open the door to Gregory's office.
After a moment, he is there…Sitting behind the massive desk, hunched over stacks of paper work. A draft breezes through the doorway and causes Gregory to fade away again, just as he looks up from his work and smiles at her.
Olivia stares into the dark room for a moment before pulling the door shut. She grabs her purse from the living room before walking up the stairs.
"Olivia!" he had bellowed up the stairs. "How the hell did this mutt get in here in the first place?"
She flinches on the stairs. Her name continues to echo around her, bouncing off the walls and assaulting her with its force. She turns around slowly and sees Gregory standing at the foot of the stairs, sneezing and coughing into a handkerchief. She shivers when he disappears and she continues walking up the stairs.
As she reaches the second floor, she hears Trey giggling and the low drone of the TV. She follows the giggling down the hallway until she comes to Trey's playroom. She stands in the doorway of what used to be Caitlin's room and smiles at what she finds. Sean and Trey are lying on the floor in front of the TV, watching cartoons. Trey is cuddled up against Sean and he's chewing on the ear of his stuffed dog in between giggles.
"Trey, get that out of your mouth," Olivia scolds.
Trey scrambles up from the floor and runs over to Olivia, throwing his arms around her. "You're home!" he shouts. "Look Mommy…Sean and me had pizza for dinner and I got to pay the delivery man!"
Olivia feigns shock. "You did? Oh Sean, are you sure that Trey was ready for this responsibility?"
Sean looks up from his spot on the floor. "He's a tough little guy…and a huge tipper. I gave him a fifty dollar bill and he forgot to wait for the change."
"The delivery man was happy I let him keep all the money," Trey insists. "Besides, I got the pizza, didn't I?"
"You most certainly did," Olivia says as she sits down on the rocking chair and pulls Trey into her lap. "How many slices of pizza did you eat?"
"Five," Trey answers as he holds up four fingers.
Sean chuckles and urges Trey's pinky finger up. "Try again, little man."
Trey frowns. "I don't like math," he mutters.
Olivia smiles as she glances down at the small silver and diamond watch on her wrist. "Bedtime soon."
Trey groans. "But Mommy, Sean and me were watching cartoons and we were gonna have a campout in here tonight!"
Sean clears his throat. "Sorry, Mom. I should've cleared it with you first…" He stands up and stretches. "We can always do it another night Trey."
"No, no," she says as she stands up too. "You boys have a good time. I'm going to be going to bed shortly." She ignores Sean's questioning eyes as she bends down to kiss Trey. "Good night baby."
"Mommy!" he whines. "I'm not a baby. I'm a big boy!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry…Good night big boy."
"Much better," he notes as he kisses Olivia. "Night Mommy."
"Not too late," she whispers to Sean as she kisses his cheek. Trey's giggling resumes as she leaves the playroom.
Olivia halts when she reaches her bedroom door, her hand resting lightly on the brass doorknob. She turns her head slightly at the sound of something thumping against the wall and soft laughter.
Gregory had pressed her against the wall, pulling open her blouse as she assaulted him with her lips. Her blouse fell open, revealing the telltale bump of pregnancy. His hands moved down her body and caressed her swollen stomach.
"You're so beautiful when you're pregnant," he mumbled as he sucked on her neck.
She squealed as his tongue ran lazily across her throat. "Gregory, not here…We'll wake Caity."
Olivia pushes open the door and leans heavily against the sturdy wood after slamming it shut. She struggles to catch her breath as her eyes move over the bedroom.
One of the windows is open and a strong breeze howls through. It seems to carry with it the soft wail of her name.
Oliviiiiiiiiiia…
She crosses to the window, slamming it down and the smack reverberates through the haunted room. She tosses her purse onto the lounge and walks into the adjoining bathroom to prepare for bed. She slides out of her clothes and steps into the warm embrace of the shower.
Gregory lugged her heavy body into the bathroom and dropped her unceremoniously on the floor of the shower. He glared down at her as he flipped the lever and let loose the icy blast.
Olivia cried out pitifully as the ice water painfully slammed into her body.
"Were you and Del having an affair?"
"Turn it…off!"
"Answer me!" He crouched down to her level and shook her violently, ignoring the icy stream that pelted his back. "I saw you with him, Olivia! Last night! Were you and he having an affair or are you in the habit of kissing a dead man's cold lips and TELLING HIM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM?"
She jerked away from him and snapped angrily, "Why would YOU even care? YOU haven't touched me in YEARS! NO ONE'S lips are colder than YOURS!" She sobbed and turned away from him as Caitlin stormed into the bathroom.
After toweling herself dry, Olivia steps into an old pair of Gregory's silk pajama's and tightens the drawstring around her slender waist as she walks back into the bedroom. As she begins removing the throw pillows from the bed and piling them on the lounge, there is a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Sean peers around the door as Olivia pulls down the duvet. "I just wanted to make sure you were ok."
Olivia nods as she sets her pillows up against the ornately carved wooden headboard. "I'm fine." She looks up and smiles reassuringly at Sean.
"How's Dad?" he asks softly.
"He's fine as well." She pauses for a moment. "You could go visit him and see for yourself."
"Mom-," Sean warns.
"It's just a suggestion, darling. Just a suggestion."
Sean shoves his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans. "One that you've been making quite a bit lately."
Olivia turns away as she goes back into the bathroom. She picks up her paddle brush and runs it through her hair.
"I'm just…not ready to see him yet," Sean calls out from the bedroom.
She comes to the doorway of the bathroom, still brushing her hair. "It's been four years…How much more time do you need?"
Sean frowns as he bites back a snarky retort. He takes a steadying breath and says softly, "I guess I just don't have your never-ending ability to forgive him for everything."
Olivia stares at him in silence for a moment before leaving the doorway. "Don't let your brother stay up too late."
"Mom, I didn't mean-"
"And make sure he brushes his teeth before he falls asleep."
"Mom-"
"Good night, Sean."
He knows better than to push his mother. "Night," he says softly. He leaves the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind him.
Olivia comes out of the bathroom when she hears the door close.
"Olivia-"
"Believe me. Believe me, Gregory. I just want you." She raised her hand to his cheek. "I've only ever wanted you. I'm so sorry." He reached up and caught her hand as she let it fall from his cheek. "I was wrong. I never realized how much…I hurt you. Please, forgive me."
And as if it was the simplest phrase in the world, he said, "I do."
She pulls back the sheet and climbs into the bed. She touches the base of the small lamp on the nightstand and the room is instantly shrouded in darkness. She hears the low rumble of thunder in the distance and says a silent prayer that Trey will sleep through the night. As she sinks down under the covers, another memory whispers to her from the dark.
"I have a wonderful idea," he offered. "Why don't we just satisfy each other from now on?" He stared at her intently as she reached out and fingered his chest before drifting her touch to his arm.
"That sounds like a good idea to me," she said throatily as she sat up. "Why don't we start now?"
"Oh my goodness," he mumbled as she kissed his lips and giggled. "I thought we already did."
"Oh that just shows what you know," she chided playfully as she climbed on top of him.
Olivia rolls over onto her side and hugs what would be Gregory's pillow to her body.
"You know darling," she said softly as she ran her fingers through his hair, "I still find you so exciting."
"Mmm hmmm," he grunted sleepily as she kissed his ear and nuzzled against him from behind.
"Mmm, I love you," she said with a smile. He chuckled softly as she lifted her head up. "I've always loved just you," she whispers into his hair.
She sighs and squeezes the soft pillow tighter as a hot tear escapes from the corner of her eye.
"And at night?" Gregory had interrupted. "Who do you have?"
"You," she whispers to the empty side of the bed. "I have you, darling."
