A/N: Lots of stuff going on…lots of things to do…just lots and lots!
Reminder – since it's been so long…Kyle's dad's name is Gerald.
Again – my apologies to Romanians everywhere. Translation: My heart went cold without him.
Until 63 Enjoy! xox - G
Chapter Sixty-two
"And we taught him how to sit. He doesn't stay still for long – but he can totally do it." Ty gushed as he sat on the edge of Quinn's desk at the newspaper, kicking his feet back and forth.
"I can't wait to meet him." Cam said with a chuckle. Ty had talked about nothing but his dog since they came into the office.
Ty picked up the baseball that Quinn used a paperweight and tossed it high in the air. "Oh you can. Mom says we're going to have a party next week but you can come over anytime."
Cam laughed louder. "Thanks for the invite."
Quinn smiled as he caught the ball in midair. "OK, buddy. Give me that before you break a window."
Ty gave him a toothless grin. "Hey Dad. Can I go get a soda or maybe some chips?"
Quinn shook his head. It was amazing how the kid was fascinated by vending machines. Still he found himself digging into his pocket. "Knock yourself out." He said as he handed over every bit of change he had.
"Thanks!" He called out as he scampered off.
"I get such a kick out of hearing that." Cam said with a smile.
"What?" Quinn asked.
His father clapped his hand on his back and gave him a quick squeeze. "Someone calling you Dad. It's great."
"Yeah. It's…great." Quinn hesitantly replied as he moved to sit behind his desk.
Cam's eyebrows lifted. "Something bothering you?"
"No. Yeah. No." Quinn sighed.
"Sounds more like yeah." He prodded.
Quinn ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I'm so happy. I mean – I'm a father. I'm Ty's father. I couldn't love that kid more if he was my own."
"That's certainly obvious."
"I love Billie – more every day it seems but here we are – living in a house we bought together, here we are, officially Ty's parents and despite all of that it's just not right." He picked up the baseball and spun it in the palm of his hand. "We're still not married."
"And why is that exactly?" Cam asked then.
"Ask her. I have no idea." Quinn shook his head. "I'm trying to do the right thing – give her time. Make sure she's comfortable with all this. Don't bring it up too much – just enough so she knows that I still want her." He sighed again, more heavily this time. "I don't know what else to do."
"Have you talked to her about it?"
"I've tried." Quinn blew out a breath. "Dad – I don't know how to handle this anymore. I don't want to upset her. She's been through so much you know? Any suggestions – cause I'm about done. If this is the way it's going to be – if she won't marry me then what the hell am I doing? Am I just kidding myself? I mean really - what do you think I should do?"
"You say you love her?"
"Yeah." Quinn nodded. "Of course I love her."
"In that case - the answer is simple." As he saw Ty coming back in with a candy bar in one hand and a can of soda in the other, Cam leaned across the desk and brought his voice down to a mere whisper. "I think you need to take matters into your own hands."
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"I want my daughter and I want her NOW!"
"Good morning to you too Olivia." Caleb said with a sigh.
Livvie was beyond livid. "I'm not kidding. Bring her back here."
He moved to her and held her by the shoulders. "Calm yourself down."
"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" She spat back at him. "And don't try and use your little mind games either." She added when she saw him move in that direction. "I'm not playing anymore."
"Can't put anything over on you now can I?" Caleb sighed as he dropped his hands to his sides.
She pushed him away and stalked to the other side of the room. "I let you do this the way you wanted to because I thoughtIcould trust you to do the right thing. But it's finished Caleb. DO YOU HEAR ME? It's DONE!"
"I can hear you." He said with a roll of his eyes as he followed her. "All of Eastern Europe can hear you."
She wasn't nearly finished. "I want Rachel back here. NOW. I want you to stop trying to do this on your own – NOW."
"Olivia – seriously." Caleb hissed at her through clenched teeth. "Get a hold of yourself."
Instead of taking his suggestion, she got a hold of him. Fisting his shirt in her hand she shoved him so forcefully he stumbled and slammed into the wall. "It's time you realized that at the moment I'm much, much stronger than you." She glared at him, rage simmering in her eyes, on the brink of boiling over. "You either bring her back to me or I'll go get her myself."
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Rafe knocked softly and walked into the room. "You getting settled OK?"
He was greeted with an uncomfortable silence.
Rafe took a deep breath and tried again. "Gerald. You agreed to come here."
"I know what I agreed to." He replied standing and moving to unpack his suitcase.
Rafe gave him a small smile. "OK. Well – I'm glad you did. We all need to stick together. There aren't many of us left."
Gerald looked over at him, his gaze expressionless. "You've certainly done your part to keep the numbers up. You've got grandkids now - don't you?"
"I do." He nodded. "I have two."
"Good for you." Gerald's voice was beyond bitter. "You were able to have the best of both worlds. I wasn't nearly as lucky. Isabelle wanted no part of it."
Rafe didn't know quite what to say to that. He said the first thing that he could think of. "I understand. I'm sure it wasn't easy."
He threw down the pair of socks he'd been holding. "Don't give me that. You don't understand. My family's in pieces and I bet you have a white picket fence."
"Sure - I've been able to make it work. But right now that's not the point." Rafe replied, beginning to get angry.
"And I'm sure you're dying to tell me what the point is." Gerald spat back his hands shaking. He clenched them into fists, looking as if he was going to take a swing at Rafe. "So go ahead. Enlighten me. Is getting sober going to bring her back? Will it bring them all back to me?"
Rafe held his gaze and said softly. "It'll certainly be a start."
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"Tell me what you're thinking." Becky whispered as she wrapped her arm around Kyle's and inched closer.
"Honestly?" Kyle took a deep breath before he continued. "I'm thinking…that I can't believe you're still here with me."
She smiled softly as she laid her head on his shoulder. "I told you – I'm not going anywhere."
"I know." He nodded as he pressed a kiss to her hair. "I still can't believe it."
They sat there quietly for a few moments looking out on the yard. It had taken a while, but with all the help they hired they were able to make quite a bit of progress.
"I want us to get married here." Becky said with a sigh as she imagined how beautiful it would look with all the flowers in bloom. She sucked in a breath – thinking that she'd said too much. Good going, Becks. She thought, her cheeks flushing pink. Way to scare him off. "I mean…not right now. But someday…"
Kyle chuckled, knowing exactly what was going on in her mind. He lifted her hand in his and gave it a kiss. "Someday we will."
Becky blinked back tears as she leaned back and looked up at him. "You really mean that?"
"Oh. I'm going to marry you Becky." Kyle said with a smile, his gaze full of love. "I thought we already established that."
"Are-are-are y-y-ou asking me now?" She stammered as her eyes locked with his. She was sure she wanted to marry him – but even she had to admit that now was a little too soon. Especially for her father. He was just getting used to all this – if they even thought about getting engaged right now that would surely make him crazy all over again. She knew what she wanted, but she also knew she was still too young. It didn't make her any less sure of her answer.
Kyle watched the confusion fill her face, a huge grin breaking out across his own. It was empowering to know exactly what your future would hold. Throughout these last few weeks he knew without question, a life without Becky would not be worth living. She was always so confident, so sure of her feelings. It was great to see her off balance for once.
"Not quite yet but don't worry." He said as he leaned close and brushed his lips against hers. "You'll know when I'm asking."
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"Ella! Do not bring that frog into the house. Are you crazy!" Alison pushed her hair out of her eyes as she brought the phone to her ear. "God. I can't wait until your father gets home." She mumbled before taking a deep breath and saying, "Hello?"
"Is she giving you a hard time?" The voice on the other end asked.
"Always." She sighed, trying to determine who she was speaking to. It was obviously someone she knew but she couldn't quite place the voice.
"She's a lovely little girl. That picture you sent to me - I can't believe it. You all are…just lovely." Katrina replied.
"Katrina?" Alison gasped as realization washed over her. "I mean…Mrs. Kovich. I mean…"
"Do not worry my dear. You may call me whatever you like. Is this not a good time to talk?" Katrina asked, her voice shaking a bit.
"No. No. This is a perfect time to talk." Alison insisted. She sighed loudly. "I can't believe it's really you."
"I can't believe what you've told me." Tears filled Katrina's voice as she continued. "It's like a dream. I thought that I lost him…"
"And he thought he lost you." Alison sniffled, trying to keep her composure. "I can't tell you how happy I am to know that you both were wrong."
Alison took another steadying breath before she continued. "Rafe isn't home. He's away, helping out an old friend of his. I'm sorry."
"That's quite alright. I'm just anxious that's all. It seems a lifetime since I've seen him." There was another long pause before she whispered. "Meu inimă frig fără pe el."
Alison was too overcome with emotion to notice. "I need to let you know. I haven't told him I've found you yet. I was afraid I wouldn't find you and couldn't bear to disappoint him. He's kept these feelings bottled up for so long…"
"I am so glad he's found someone who understands him so well. It means very much to me to know that he's happy." Katrina said then.
Alison wiped at her eyes. "I like to think I make him happy."
Katrina regarded the photo in her hands as she replied. "I have no doubt that you do."
"I'd like to ask you to come here to be with us – for a little while at least." Alison spoke tentatively. "I'd like to surprise him if I can."
Katrina wanted nothing more but knew that it wouldn't be that simple. "I will see. It won't be easy. I'm not in the best of health I'm afraid."
Alison's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't even considered that she might be ill. She summoned her strength and kept her voice bright. "I think seeing your son might be just the thing that cures you."
Katrina smile could almost be heard over the phone as she replied. "I think you might be right."
