Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Author: Kimberly21570
Fandom: Guiding Light
Pairing: Olivia and Natalia
Disclaimers and Other Assorted Ramblings: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, Natalia and Rafe Rivera, Phillip, James, and Alan Spaulding, Gus Aitoro, and Buzz, Frank, and Daisy Cooper, are owned by Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. No copyright infringement intended with regard to GL, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, or any other entity. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 8 consists of 9 updates, the majority of which will be presented in smaller segments than what you're generally accustomed to receiving. I find this to be the most prudent presentation because, while there is an overarching theme, each major segment has its own specific purpose. The segments will be posted weekly over the course of several weeks, which will allow me to continue providing you all with regular updates through the end of my semester. I will endeavor to post on the same day each week.
Dialogue in this chapter is original, with the exception of a brief mention of the conversation between Buzz and Natalia that aired on 1.28.2009.
Rating: Chapter 8.3 is rated R for extremely coarse language and vulgarity. Be forewarned: there is intense anger and some mild violence (no bloodshed—that's not my style), as well as several homophobic slurs in this chapter. They are not meant to offend, but rather, to acknowledge the harsh reality that despite growing acceptance of the LGBT community in mainstream America, intense and unfounded hatred for us still exists within the hearts of many. The statements, while admittedly vulgar, are reasonable given the context of the scene, and are absolutely not taken lightly.
Once again, thank you all for your continued interest in this story. I hope you enjoy the update…
Regards—
Kimberly
Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Copyright May, 2009
"In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins. Not through strength, but through persistence."
Anonymous
Chapter 8.3 – Confessions and Confrontations | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner:
Saturday Evening—Company…
Dinner on Saturday evening brought a welcomed, yet short-lived reprieve from the angst of the day. Somehow, Natalia had managed to finagle inviting Jen, Tracy, and their boys not only to go bowling with them, but also to join them for dinner at Company. And the most interesting part of the situation, was that somehow—Olivia still wasn't exactly certain how—Natalia had managed to make Olivia believe that the dinner invitation had been her own idea. Olivia had certainly been the one to extend it, when she met Tracy at the Beacon to drop Emma off that morning, on her way to visit Phillip at the Police Station.
While still a bit uncomfortable with the idea of being open with the hotelier about the nature of her relationship with Jen, Tracy had indicated that she would check with her about their dinner plans, and get back with them. Regardless, though, they would have Emma at the restaurant by five o'clock for dinner. And with that agreement in place, Emma scrambled into the back seat of Tracy's car where she joined Jacob and Dylan. The excited chatter began before Emma was even buckled in, and Olivia and Tracy shared a chuckle before parting ways.
An hour later, Tracy called Natalia to confirm dinner plans, and true to her word, she, Jen, Emma, and the boys walked into Company at five o'clock, sharp. Emma tore off across the room, running straight into Natalia's arms, nearly knocking her over on impact.
Natalia laughed and hugged her. "I missed you too, Jellybean," she said, kissing her on the head.
"I had a great time today!" Emma exuberantly declared, as Jen, Tracy, and the boys made their way to the family-style corner booth near the back of the restaurant, where Olivia and Natalia were waiting for them.
"Did you thank Ms. Jen and Ms. Tracy?" Glancing up, Natalia welcomed them with a warm smile, as Emma informed her that she had, indeed, remembered to thank them. An invitation to have a seat was extended to their guests, as Olivia stood to allow Emma into the booth.
Olivia greeted them, as well; offering a genuine smile that helped to settle their nerves.
Like Olivia, neither of them had been particularly certain such an outing was a good idea, especially given the hostile environment that flowed through the underground gossip mill at the Beacon since the hotelier and her executive assistant had come out as a couple. Most of the staff seemed genuinely pleased for them—they were certainly appreciative of the changes in the hotelier's way of dealing with them, and the general consensus was that Natalia had been the instigator of those changes.
Beneath that layer of acceptance though, the usual scuttlebutt had continued, of course. Only now, there seemed to be a more sinister element to the gossip—and that sinister part was kept under strict control, by none other than the Queen Bee herself, Betsy Stephens.
Nonetheless, Olivia's openness went a long way toward rectifying their uncertainty, and Jen and Tracy felt almost instantaneously at ease. They let thoughts of the Beacon gossipmongers fall by the wayside, as they slipped into the booth next to their boys. Tonight was a night for new beginnings.
Sliding back in next to Emma, Olivia made room for Natalia on the end. "Thank you for having her over. It seems like she really enjoyed it," she said, as they all settled into their respective seats.
Jen offered a smile. "It was a pleasure having her, Ms. Spencer," she said, sincerely. "She's a little sweetheart."
"Thank you," Olivia and Natalia proudly replied, in unison.
"We'll have to have the boys over to play sometime soon," Natalia offered, prompting a rowdy rumble of approval from three little, yet enthusiastic voices.
"I think they agree," Jen laughed, tipping her head toward her sons.
Natalia smiled. "Then we'll set something up. Maybe… weekend after next?" she suggested.
"Sounds good," Jen declared, promising to check their calendar for conflicts and confirm later in the week.
Buzz dropped by the table then, bringing them menus and glasses of ice water. He chatted with the ladies for a moment, teased Emma a bit, took their drink orders, and then let them know Daisy would be with them momentarily.
As he stepped away from the table, Emma and the boys occupied themselves with a passionate discussion regarding the virtues of gaming systems—the Sony PS3 versus the Microsoft xBox360 versus the Nintendo Wii—as the adults fell easily into chatter about the Beacon. Jen thanked Natalia again for her help with the troublesome audit report a few days prior, and Natalia noted that it hadn't been all that complicated in the light of morning. Jen agreed that fresh eyes and a well-rested perspective had been all that was necessary to solve the mystery. To which Tracy teased, "See, Babe, told ya so," as she playfully bumped Jen's shoulder.
Her own casual use of that endearment made Tracy's heart lurched in her chest. She knew Olivia was now aware of their relationship, but she hadn't a clue whether or not Natalia had been told—not that it mattered really. It was just new to her, the idea of being so open about their relationship in front of people other than her family, especially their bosses; and it would take some time for her to grow accustomed to the change. Or so she thought.
As for Natalia, Tracy's use of that endearment solidified what she had suspected between them. She hoped she didn't look too surprised—not that they were together, of course, but that they were being so open about it. She noted that Olivia didn't react to it at all, which made her wonder if the hotelier already had confirmation, and had just chosen to keep it to herself. It would be so like the Olivia she had come to love, to not divulge private information about other people.
Their discussion moved on to the impact of gossip around the Beacon, and Olivia's appreciation for the Jen and Tracy having come to them with their concerns. Tracy cleared her throat, capturing everyone's attention. "Before we go any further, I, um… I think… maybe some ground rules might be good here," she proposed.
"Meaning?" Olivia hadn't meant it to, but her tone was decidedly boss-like, her expression, poker-faced.
Tracy swallowed. She respected the hotelier, and didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing.
Natalia noticed the change in Tracy's demeanor, and eased the tension with another of her warm smiles, as she reached across the table, gently patting her hand. "Don't worry about her," she said, dismissively, as she tipped her head toward Olivia. "Her bark's worse than her bite."
Olivia scowled, feigning indignation; but Natalia ignored her. It was simply their way.
The combination of the comment and Olivia's response brought a smile to Tracy's face, and she relaxed again.
"Sorry… force of habit," Olivia said, sheepishly. She smiled then, and Tracy's characteristically amicable demeanor returned.
"What's your suggestion?" Olivia asked.
"I think we should make an agreement that what's said between the four of us, stays between us. We just…" she sighed, "We—"
The suggestion was already making Olivia feel better. Boundaries. She needed boundaries—especially when it came to the delicate balance of her personal and professional lives. They helped her feel contained and in control. That train wreck with Josh on Wednesday night had proven that in spades. She smiled at them. "That sounds like a great idea,' she said, setting them both at ease.
"It's more to protect the two of you," Jen explained. She and Tracy had talked at length about this earlier in the day. "We just… we want you to know that we appreciate the invitation this evening, Ms. Spencer, and—"
"Exactly," Tracy interjected, "and we wouldn't do or say anything to disrespect either of you."
"Right," Jen said, glancing at Tracy. "We'll keep our professional relationships with the two of you separate."
"Obviously, we're very good at separating those parts of our life," Tracy pointed out.
Olivia and Natalia glanced at one another, and burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Jen's face held a confused expression.
Natalia shook her head, as she stifled her laughter. "The two of you remind us of ourselves," she explained.
"How so?" Tracy asked, curious.
"We finish one another's thoughts and sentences the exact same way," Olivia expounded.
"Oh!" Jen laughed. "Yeah, it just kinda happens." She shrugged.
"We've been doing that for years," Tracy reported.
"Since long before we were even together," Jen added, reaching over, taking Tracy's hand into her own. The gesture took Tracy a bit off guard, but she didn't resist they way she might have in the past. In that moment she realized how disconcerting it must have been to Jen, that she would hold Jen's hand in public without reservation before they were together, but had been so disinclined to do so since. That was going to change.
"Exactly," Tracy agreed, "My family thinks it's hilarious."
"Tracy's grandmother says we're like an old, Italian married couple," Jen shared. The expression on her face said she held great fondness for the woman.
"Yeah, except we don't bicker all the time," Tracy laughed. Despite her misgivings, she had to admit it felt damned good to talk openly about their relationship with someone other than her family.
Jen caught the expression on Olivia and Natalia's faces. "We're doing it again, aren't we?"
"Yes," Olivia and Natalia said in chorus; and they all shared a hearty laugh.
Their jovial conversation and light banter continued through the arrival of their drinks and the ordering of dinner; and finally, after the third or forth time Tracy called her "Ms. Spencer," an earlier discussion with Natalia prompted Olivia's response. "Listen," she said, garnering their attention, "If we're gonna socialize, don't you think we should be on a first name basis?"
Nodding her head, Tracy said, "I think that would be nice."
"Yes, it would," Jen readily agreed. "Thank you."
"Mommy?" Emma was tugging on the sleeve of Olivia's jacket.
"Yeah, Baby?"
"Can I—"
Olivia arched an eyebrow, halting Emma mid-request.
Emma rolled her eyes and sighed. "I mean, may I show Jacob and Dylan Uncle Buzz's jukebox?"
Olivia grinned. "Nice save, Jellybean. And yes, you may—" She glanced across the table at Jen and Tracy, "if it's okay with their Mommies."
Standing up, Tracy fished some quarters out of the pocket of her jeans, and gave them to the boys along with permission to go with Emma. She received noises of excited approval from all three in response. It only took a moment for everyone to switch places, letting the kids out of the booth. "Share those quarters with Emma," she instructed.
"Okay, Tra—," Jacob paused, peering up at her. "Mamá," he finished; trying the new rules on for size. Jen and Tracy had talked with the boys the night prior, apologizing to them for putting them in the middle of their "grown-up stuff," and letting them know they didn't have to pretend Tracy wasn't their other mom anymore. He smiled brightly, indicating that he liked the way that felt; and Tracy mussed his dark curls, smiling in return. And then he and Emma took off toward the jukebox, while Dylan stopped to squeeze Tracy's waist. "Thanks, 'Mamá," he said, animatedly, through his partially toothless grin. But before she could respond, he was already half-way across the restaurant.
She just laughed and shook her head, as she dropped back down into the booth next to Jen.
"They're such sweet boys," Natalia said, fondly. She had often thought as much, as she caught glimpses of them playing with Emma at the Beacon after school.
"Thank you," Jen and Tracy said in unison, and they all laughed again.
"My whole family is totally in love with them," Tracy commented.
"Tracy's family has been an absolute godsend to me," Jen declared. "They've made up for so many losses—given the boys grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and cousins. Family they never would've had without the whole Giordani-Lombardi-Jackson clan." The affection in her tone was reflected in her smile.
"That's really nice," Olivia said, sincerely. She wished Emma could have had such a wonderful support system when she was younger; and in that moment, she was all the more thankful for Natalia. She reached over, taking Natalia's hand, receiving a warm smile in response.
From behind the bar, Buzz noticed the gesture, and the wheels began to turn. He remembered the conversation with Natalia, where she had declared the very notion of her and Olivia as a couple to be "outrageous." But as she spoke about how "it", ostensibly meaning the drama about Emma's presentation and the accusations regarding the nature of their relationship, was "over," he remembered the subtle catch in her voice, the shadow that ghosted across those usually vibrant eyes, the touch of sorrow, or perhaps regret, that painted her expression. Those things caught his attention, making him wonder if perhaps she might be sorry the rumors weren't true. Then there was Frank who, after weeks of walking around with a goofy grin on his face, had been grumpy, of late. Grumpier than usual, in fact, and he hadn't mentioned Natalia in over a week. And Olivia looked happier, more content, than he'd ever seen her—a state of being that seemed to have emerged after moving in with Natalia. Somehow, all of those factors were linked—and given the company Olivia and Natalia were in this evening, he was fairly certain he knew how. The knowledge brought a smile to his face. Clearly, something had changed.
"So your family isn't close by?" Natalia was asking Jen. She sounded disappointed for Jen and her boys.
"No," Jen answered honestly, "but even if they were, they're um… well, they're not exactly supportive of our family." She tried to not sound hurt or angry.
"I'm really sorry, Jen," Natalia said, sincerely. "If I had known—"
"It's okay, Natalia," Jen assured, "Really." She smiled, trying to reinforce her statement, as Tracy took her hand, squeezing it in a gesture of support. Jen squeezed back, silently thanking her. "My father is a Southern Baptist minister," she reported, allowing the facts to explain the obvious.
"A minister?" Olivia parroted. She sounded surprised; though she didn't know why.
"Yeah," Jen chuckled, "I'm a P. K." The expressions on Olivia and Natalia's faces told her further explanation was warranted. "Preacher's Kid," she clarified; and understanding dawned in their eyes. "P. K. is sort of standard lingo in my former circles. Anyway, they don't get any more Southern than Daddy," she added, a hint of sarcasm in her tone. "I can't fault him, though. I know better than most how difficult it is to get that Mississippi Bayou influence outta your head."
"I thought you were from Boston," Olivia said, confused.
Jen nodded, indicating that Olivia was correct. "I am, sort of… I was born in a rural area of southwestern Mississippi, where my father pastored several small churches on the circuit," she explained. "When I was seven, my youngest sister was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, and we moved to Boston to get her the specialized treatment she needed."
"That must've been really difficult for your family," Natalia said, empathically.
"It was," Jen concurred, taking a sip of her water, "but thanks to God and the miracles of modern medicine, she came through." Despite her family's judgment of her, Jen's smile was genuine, as she thought about her baby sister. "She's married with two little girls now."
"I'm really glad to hear that," Natalia said, sincerely. Whether through illness and death or abandonment, she understood, all too well, the pain of losing a sibling. She wouldn't wish that on anyone.
"Thank you," Jen replied. "I'm glad she's okay, too."
"Does your father still pastor?" Olivia asked, curious. It felt so strange, asking personal questions of an employee; but Natalia had insisted she learn to be more sociable, and less dictatorial in associating with others—in both her personal and professional life. She was trying her hardest to take Natalia's advice, first with Damian a few days prior, and now with Jen and Tracy. Baby steps.
"Oh, yeah," Jen answered. "He could never give up the Church. Loves the people too much—especially the ones in his little mission churches in Mississippi. It's such a poor area—most live well below poverty, and he had such a heart for helping them." She smiled, despite herself, at the thought of her father and his love for those people. "He wanted to move back home after Lisa got better, but my mother wouldn't hear of it. She wanted to stay close to medical resources, just in case…"
Olivia and Natalia both expressed an understanding of Jen's mother's concerns, and Jen agreed that she, too, would have made a similar decision for the sake of her boys' well-being. "Daddy called it a lack of faith," Jen said, "Mom just called it prudence."
Again, there were noises of agreement all around. And the conversation continued from there, each of them sharing little bits and pieces of their lives, until the topic somehow wended its way back to dealing with the disapproval of others.
"Yeah, it hasn't exactly been an easy road," Jen was saying, as she referred to the challenges they'd faced in their relationship. "My parents were accusing us of all sorts of salacious things long before we ever even kissed. They saw how close we became after I lost Jake, and just started making assumptions."
Olivia and Natalia both nodded in understanding. "We can relate," Olivia said, "at least in some respects."
"Except that our accusers were politicians, and parents of other children," Natalia clarified.
"And Beacon employees," Olivia added wryly, drawing a laugh from everyone.
As if on some sort of demented cosmic cue, Diane and Jackie sauntered through the front door. They spotted the foursome in the back booth immediately, and Tracy saw them, as well. Diane fixed her with an odious glare, which was nothing new; and Tracy watched them, as they meticulously scoped out just the right table to allow them to eavesdrop.
"At least it wasn't our family," Natalia was pointing out, as Tracy's attention returned to their conversation. She said nothing about the new arrivals.
"Emma and Rafe's crazy grandfather?" Olivia reminded. She rolled her eyes.
Natalia frowned, uncharacteristically. She was torn about the prospect of acknowledging Alan as "family." He was, of course, but in name only, in her opinion—it was difficult for her, given the way he had abandoned Rafe after the boy's incarceration. After all, Alan Spaulding was no stranger to imprisonment, himself.
"Emma and Rafe share a grandfather?" Jen's tone asked the question.
Natalia nodded her head. "Yes," she confirmed, "My husband was Emma's uncle," she explained.
"So, what, the two of you were like… sisters-in-law?" Tracy presumed. Their family dynamic was interesting; she could certainly give them that.
"Nothing like keeping it in the family," came an acerbic comment from the booth behind them. The comment clearly not meant for their ears, the voice was low, and thus, unrecognizable.
"Who's that?" Olivia mouthed.
"Diane," Tracy mouthed in reply, causing Olivia to see red. She'd had more than enough of that woman the afternoon prior. "Jackie's here, too."
Natalia noticed the shift in Olivia's demeanor, and she was thankful to be sitting on the outer edge of the booth. She reached over, taking Olivia's hand again; steadying her.
Olivia swallowed, and put forth her best smile, all the while gritting her teeth over Diane's comment. She hoped Natalia understood the level of restraint required of her not to explode at that woman. "Not exactly," she said, in answer to Tracy's question.
"We would've been, if I had married Gus a few years earlier," Natalia offered in explanation.
"Would've been rather, um… interesting… if we'd fallen in love while married to Phillip and Gus," Olivia grinned. She didn't mention the fact that she had fallen into Phillip's bed while still married to Alan.
"Yeah, interesting is definitely the word for it," Natalia said, drolly.
"So… how did the two of you end up together?" Tracy asked, bravely.
"Oh, it was a long and very winding road," Natalia said, dramatically. She smiled at Olivia.
"With a lot of potholes," Olivia added, humorously. Everyone laughed.
"At a speed that could only be termed glacial…" Natalia sighed.
"And I thought you and Frank were glacial," Olivia said, wryly.
Natalia fixed her with a pointed look. "That's only because I never belonged with Frank."
"Touché, Sweetheart," Olivia grinned.
"I don't care how slow the two of you were," Jen piped in, "Tracy and I cornered the marked on 'glacial'," she laughed.
Natalia couldn't even imagine anything taking longer than her and Olivia. "How long did it take you?" she asked, flabbergasted.
"Three very long years." Tracy feigned disgruntlement and sheer exhaustion from the pursuit.
Jen offered her a sheepish grin; then glanced at Olivia and Natalia. "She was unbelievably patient," she openly recognized. "But she knew what she wanted, and she certainly wasn't shy about letting me know," she teased.
Tracy blushed, remembering some of the ways in which she had let Jen know. "Yeah, I was pretty brazen, wasn't I, Babe?"
"That's putting it mildly," Jen said, drolly.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I certainly feel better about the pace we've taken," Natalia said to Olivia.
Olivia laughed. "We're moving like a torpedo by comparison."
"Oh, stop it," Jen laughed. "It wasn't that bad!"
"Speak for yourself," Tracy said, wittily.
Jen hugged Tracy close. "Like I said… she was unbelievably patient." She kissed her lover's cheek. "It took me forever to reconcile my feeling for her, with my faith," she shared.
"I really struggled with that, too, Jen," Natalia quietly admitted. The tone of the conversation shifted.
"It's tough, isn't it?" Jen said, empathically. She reached across the table, gently patting Natalia's hand.
"It is," Natalia sighed, softly. "I wish I'd had some of whatever wisdom you found, a year ago. It might've saved us some time, and a lot of heartache."
Jen thought carefully about Natalia's statement. "I know what you mean, Natalia," she said, gently, "but it's such a personal journey, y'know? I just don't know that my wisdom would've matched your unique struggles, or vice versa. Know what I mean?"
"You make a good point," Natalia conceded. "I guess… I just think it would've been nice to have someone who understood the underlying struggle, y'know?"
"Yeah, I do know," Jen said, nodding. She patted Natalia's hand again. "But ya know what? We have a table full of people who understand now, and that feels really good."
Natalia appreciated Jen's sense of optimism. And from the expression on Olivia's face, Natalia accurately surmised that she did, too. Things were working out even better than Natalia had hoped—and it looked as though that trend was destined to continue.
They were all laughing at something Tracy had said when Daisy arrived with their order. And she was followed very closely by three hungry little children. She asked about Rafe as she sorted their plates, and smiled when Natalia informed her that he was doing well. She was surprised by Natalia's recommendation that she visit him; but it was a pleasant surprise. Despite the fact that she was dating his cousin, she still missed Rafe a lot. She left the table with a promise to check back with them in a few minutes, and an assurance to Natalia that she would visit with Rafe sometime during the following week.
As they settled in to eat their dinner then, the chatter turned to school issues—both that of the children, as well as Tracy's progress toward finishing her Bachelor's degree.
"Gosh, it's been a really long six years, but I finally graduate in May," Tracy said with an exhausted sigh.
"She starts her MBA in the fall," Jen said, pride evident in her tone, as her fingertips lightly brushed Tracy's arm. She received a shy smile in response.
"Hopefully, that won't take as long," Tracy said, dryly.
"It won't be so bad," Olivia assured, after swallowing a bite of her grilled chicken. "The structure is so much different in graduate school. Not only in terms of assignments and grading, but also the class sizes are usually a lot smaller, so there's more interaction between students. More sharing of ideas and such."
"That's what Jen said," Tracy relayed. "Gotta be honest—I'm looking forward to classes that don't consist of hours upon hours of boring lecture in a hot lecture hall with a hundred inane undergrads who clearly don't want to be there."
"Oh, so that hasn't changed in the last twenty years?" Olivia feigned surprise. "Shocker!"
Everyone laughed at Olivia's animated expression.
"Yeah, it really is nice to be with people who are more invested," Jen agreed, when they stopped laughing. She took a taste of her tuna noodle casserole, and moaned appreciatively.
Olivia grinned in response. "Told you it was good."
"Oh, it's amazing!" Jen declared. "Melts in your mouth…"
"Exactly!" Olivia felt quite proud of herself for bringing Buzz another convert. "Don't tell Buzz, but…" she leaned in toward the center of the table, as if to divulge something top-secret, but she didn't lower her voice, "Natalia's melts even better."
"Oh, I'll just bet she does," that spiteful voice growled at the next table.
Thankfully, the comment was covered by Natalia's voice. "Thank you, Honey," she said, softly. She planted a soft kiss on Olivia's cheek.
Innocent as if may have been, Buzz didn't miss the significance of that gesture. He checked another marker on the list that said they were lovers—or at least they were barreling in that direction.
Jen grinned and bit her bottom lip, as Tracy fought hard to stifle a laugh. And when Olivia realized how that statement might have been misconstrued, her entire body flushed with embarrassment—she could feel the heat creeping up her chest, flooding her face, leaving her ears feeling like heated flares, drawing attention toward themselves. She gulped. "I really was just talking about the casserole," she said, in a small voice.
"I'm sure it's fabulous," Jen said, willfully maintaining a poker face.
"It's yummy!" Emma piped in just in the nick of time. "But her chicken and rice casserole is even better," she declared, with a satisfied grin.
"Aww… thank you, Sweetie," Natalia said, sweetly.
Ugh! Yes, thank you, Emma! Olivia thought. You are so getting a special reward for saving Mommy's ass. Stubbornly reclaiming her composure, she turned her attention back to Tracy, asking, "Any idea where you'd like to focus for your Master's Thesis?"
Tracy munched on a fry. She was thankful that the awkward moment had passed without her having burst into an inappropriate fit of laughter. "Well, since Jen here took Beacon Enterprises," she said with a teasing lilt, as she bumped her shoulder against Jen's, "I guess I'll have to find another hotel conglomerate as my area of focus." Obviously, more than one student had chosen Beacon Enterprises as their focus over the years; but given that Jen was her partner, and that information could possibly cause faculty members to question, Tracy would leave no room for accusation that she hadn't completed all the work herself.
"Hey, now," Jen protested. "First come, first serve."
Olivia laughed. "She has a point," she teased. "Actually, I read Jen's thesis—it was quite impressive," she said, sincerely.
"Thank you, Ms. Spence—"
The expression on Olivia's face stopped her mid-sentence.
"I mean, Olivia," Jen said, blushing.
Grinning, Olivia told her she was welcome; then asked of Tracy, "Have you considered Galaxy Enterprises as an alternative?" Oh, how she would love to get her hands on an unbiased analysis of that company! "It would give you a terrific opportunity to view the international playing field."
Natalia gazed at Olivia in awe. She was mesmerized not only by the woman, but also by the conversation—she loved hearing about the intricacies of business and higher learning; and most of all she loved hearing about it from Olivia. Both the topic and the woman were intensely fascinating to her.
"I'll keep that in mind." Tracy's smile was genuine. "Thanks, Olivia."
"It's no problem," Olivia said. "It's actually selfish on my part," she admitted. "I'd love to read a thorough analysis of the company."
"I'll see what I can do about that," Tracy grinned, before turning her attention back to the mound of cooling fries on her plate.
Their amiable chatter continued as they finished their dinner; promising three very well-behaved children the dessert of their choice at the bowling alley. The evening was going extremely well, and despite the obviously liquor-fueled, odious barbs coming from the table behind them, they had chosen to ignore the presence of the two gossip queens, as they enjoyed this newfound connection between families.
Finally, the bills had been settled, and the children, who had been bundled up in preparation for the chill of the February night, were chatting excitedly about bowling. As they headed toward the door, Diane's voice once again made her presence known. "See, I done told ya them fuckin' dykes always stick together," she slurred, deliberately staring Tracy down from across the room. Her obvious rancor had been escalating all evening, presumably in direct proportion to her alcohol consumption; and she hadn't even bothered to conceal her voice this time. "It's only a matter of time 'fore them queers take over the Bea—" she hiccupped, "con."
The hateful comments caught the attention of nearly everyone in the restaurant this time, including Daisy and Buzz. Setting his bus tub down, Buzz was immediately on alert—as were Olivia and Tracy. Each time one of Diane's acerbic comments had met their ears, both Olivia and Tracy's blood had boiled, and Natalia and Jen worked overtime to calm them. This time, Natalia wrapped her arms around Olivia, whispering to her, reminding her, once again, to think about her heart.
It killed her to do so, but Olivia nodded in agreement.
Grasping Olivia's face in her hands, Natalia kissed her tenderly. "Thank you," she whispered, lightly kissing her again, just as Frank walked in the front door, nearly running right into them. Startled by the encounter, he mumbled an incoherent apology, as he brushed past them.
Natalia felt terrible. She hadn't meant for them to run into him. He usually worked the late shift on Saturday nights, to give his guys a break. She had no idea he would be at Company this early, or she would have suggested an alternate dinner destination. Given Diane's behavior, she was beginning to wish she had done so anyway.
Those light kisses were the first overtly intimate gesture between the two of them that evening, and both Daisy and Buzz took note of the exchange. Their eyebrows lifted in unison—for different reasons, of course, and Daisy blinked twice, readjusting her eyes to ensure she wasn't seeing things. "Did you know anything about this?" she asked her grandpa.
"I've suspected for a while that Olivia was smitten with Natalia," Buzz answered, honestly; their eyes immediately tracking toward Frank, who had planted himself at the bar, looking quite sullen. "But it wasn't until tonight that I realized the feelings went both ways." All the signs had been there in that conversation with Natalia; but it had taken seeing the two of them together, the way they had been tonight, for the truth to gel in his mind.
"Uncle Frank looks like hell," Daisy noted. She frowned, feeling bad for him. And then she wondered if Rafe knew what was going on between Olivia and his mother. If he did, she didn't think he would be feeling much better, and she wondered if perhaps that was why Natalia suggested that she visit him.
"Don't worry about Frank," Buzz said. "I'll talk to him."
Jen had the lesser fortune of not being able to calm Tracy, who had finally had her fill of that garrulous old biddy and her incessantly flapping gums. Jen knew Tracy well—knew that the young woman had the longest, most spark-resistant fuse on the planet, but that once ignited, it burned fast and furiously. Proactively, she dug a few quarters from her purse, and handed them to the children, suggesting that they might want to play a few more video games.
Jacob and Emma were more than willing to oblige her, but Dylan peered up at her with those dark, inquisitive eyes. "Are you just trying to get rid of us?" he knowingly accused.
The child's intuition never ceased to amaze her. She sighed. "Yes," she answered, forthrightly.
"Is Mamá gonna blow a gasket?"
"Probably," Jen answered, directly. "Now scoot! Go find your brother." She patted him on the behind, sending him on his way, and braced herself for the impending explosion. "Tracy, please," she pleaded with her partner, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder.
"No, Jen," Tracy grunted, shaking her head angrily. "I've had all I can stand of that woman and her wagging tongue. If we're gonna be out, there's no reason for me to hold my temper any longer."
Jen tossed Olivia and Natalia a worried glance, as Tracy stalked toward Diane and Jackie's table.
Natalia shifted nervously on her feet, and glanced at Olivia. "Are you gonna stop her?" Her tone said Olivia should do just exactly that.
Olivia shook her head, indicating that she had no plans to intervene. "She's off the clock, Natalia. She can do whatever she wants," she pointed out. "Besides, if not for you asking me to stay calm, I would rip her a new a—"
The expression on Natalia's face stopped Olivia's statement. She clamped her mouth shut tightly.
Reaching her target, Tracy bent over, slamming her hands on the table. "I'll thank you to not use that kind of language in front of my children," she said sternly. It clearly wasn't a request.
Diane's jaw stiffened and she sat completely upright, defiance flashing in her pale green eyes. "I wasn't aware that You had children," she snapped, scornfully.
It was a direct challenge to the legitimacy of Tracy's role as a parent to the boys, and it stabbed her in the gut. Jen winced, but Tracy held her ground.
"What, did baby dyke grow a big, fat dick or somethin'?" Diane's laugh was mocking. "Or did you figure out howta squirt sperm bank cum out of a dildo?"
Jen's heart began to race, and she fought the urge to interfere. Olivia and Natalia just looked at one another; shocked by what they were hearing.
Tracy tightened her jaw and gritted her teeth. This woman was vile beyond words. "I have two wonderful little boys, who aren't accustomed to hearing that kind of filth," she said, as calmly as she could manage. "My partner and I don't speak that way in their presence, and we would appreciate it if you would watch your mouth in front of them."
"Ohhh, you and your partner, huh?" Diane sneered. "What, you finally grew the balls to admit you're fucking your bitch of a supervisor, now that the managers are dykes, too?"
"Diane, please stop," Jackie pleaded. She looked as though she might become ill.
Her right hand instinctively balling up into a fist, Tracy's face turned crimson with fury, as she fought hard against the urge to sock the acerbic woman right in her filthy mouth. "Don't talk about them that way," she seethed.
"Or what?" Diane challenged; a taunting grin on her lips. "Are you gonna punch my lights out?" she mocked. "Will that make you feel like a real bull-dyke, defending your little pack of femmes that way? Well, you'd better go get a haircut if you wanna look the part, Sweetheart." The woman's voice was dripping with contempt.
A triumphant smile crept across Tracy's face. "You sure seem to know a lot about lesbian lingo," she accused. "Makes me wonder if you're not a closet case, yourself."
Diane lunged from the table, her green eyes turning nearly black with anger. "How dare you accuse me of something so despicable," she barked, as she shoved herself into Tracy's personal space. "I study up on things that disgust me. And no one disgusts me more than you!" She spit directly in Tracy's face.
Shocked gasps of air were drawn in by Olivia, Natalia, and Jen; and Frank was on his feet, quickly moving across the room, as Buzz closed in from the other side.
"Diane!" Jackie screeched. Jumping from the table, she grabbed the unruly woman; but she couldn't hold her back. Diane wriggled away from her, lunging toward Tracy again. This time she reached beneath the open lapels of Tracy's black leather bomber jacket, grabbing her by the front of her t-shirt, shoving her against the table behind them.
Natalia, who wasn't prepared for such a sulfurous display, stood there in stunned silence, her mouth agape; and Jen looked as though she might faint.
Infuriated, Tracy sluiced the spit from her face and wiped it on her jeans, as the balled-up fist of her other hand instinctively drew back. But before she could launch a punch, Olivia grabbed her wrist; holding her steady.
"Let go of me!" Tracy growled; attempting to jerk loose.
"No!" Olivia said, firmly; startling the younger woman. She hadn't realized it was Olivia who had grabbed her. "Listen to me, Tracy," she insisted, forcing the younger woman to look at her.
Everything happened so quickly that Olivia hadn't noticed how Buzz had cornered Jackie, moving her away from the situation, as Frank detained Diane the very same instant in which she caught Tracy's wrist.
"Let me go, you fucking beast!" Diane yelped, as Frank grabbed hold of her arm.
"That beast is the Chief of Detectives, Diane," Natalia smugly informed.
"Shut the fuck up, you self-righteous little dyke," Diane snarled.
Startled, Natalia jumped back.
"I suggest the same for you," Frank said sternly to Diane.
Jen slipped an arm around Natalia's shoulder. "Ignore her, okay? Come on," she said, leading her toward Olivia and Tracy, and away from the volatile woman.
Olivia's full attention was focused on Tracy. The young woman's lips were trembling, and the anger in her eyes had turned to tears. Gently grasping Tracy's biceps, she locked her into place with a resolute gaze. "I know you're angry, Tracy," she validated, "I understand that. I am too. But that woman isn't worth it. She's not worth risking an assault charge, okay?" she reasoned. "You have something like that on your record, and you'll ruin any chance at a future in management. Understand me?" She sounded like a protective mother hen.
Nearly numb, Tracy drew in a series of short, sudden breaths, as she nodded her head.
"Good," Olivia said, decisively. "Now, why don't we get our families and get outta here."
Again, Tracy nodded. Olivia turned to walk back toward Natalia, finding her already there. She wrapped her arms around Natalia, as Tracy grabbed her sleeve, catching her attention.
Olivia turned back toward her, the concerned expression in her eyes was clear. "Are you all right?"
"I'll be fine," Tracy said, quietly, as Jen pulled her close; brushing her lips against Tracy's brow. "I just wanted to say thank you."
Olivia nodded, and offered her a compassionate smile. "You're welcome."
Before they could make their way to the door, Frank approached the four of them; holding Diane firmly by the arm, but keeping her away from Tracy. "I'm sorry to bother you, Miss, but I need—" He stopped mid-sentence when he recognized the young woman. But not wanting to make a bad scene worse, he gathered his composure, and continued, "I need to know if you'd like to make a statement after her arrest."
"What?" Diane barked. "She can't press charges against me!" She struggled to get away from Frank, but he only held on tighter.
"If you don't stop, I'll put you in cuffs right now," he warned. She didn't need to know he was off-duty, and didn't have any handcuffs on him. He turned his attention back to Tracy. "One more thing… and, I know it's kinda gross, but… I need you to not wash your face or hand until we can swab you for DNA evidence. I know we have eyewitnesses, it's always better to present DNA when it's available."
Tracy nodded her head, and Frank glanced over at his father. "Pop, do me a favor, will ya? Call the station. Have them send a squad car over. Tell 'em I need Malloy, and she should bring a forensics kit. And don't let anyone leave until they arrive."
"Sure thing, Frank," Buzz replied. He snatched the phone from the wall, hitting the speed dial for the station.
"I didn't do anything wrong!" Diane insisted.
"I beg to differ," Frank said, sternly. "From what I witnessed, not only did you viciously grab this young woman, you spit directly in her face, which, for your information, is considered assault and battery," he informed. "And coupled with the discriminatory garbage that was spewing from your mouth, you could also be charged with a hate crime, which is a Class Four felony. And while we're at it, we can add in public intoxication, just for good measure."
"She attacked me first!" Diane defended.
"No—," Frank said, adamantly. "She asked you politely to watch your filthy mouth around her children."
"She doesn't have any children," Diane said, caustically. "Nor does she have the balls to press charges."
"She doesn't have to," Frank said, almost smugly. "The State will take care of that for her."
"I told you to keep your mouth shut, Diane," Jackie chastised.
Diane glared at her. "Fuck you!" she barked. "Just call Dave. Tell him to call our attorney."
"Hey!" Frank snapped, jerking her arm. "Watch your mouth. I think that's what got you in the mess in the first place."
She fixed him with an icy glare, and clamped her mouth shut.
Frank directed his attention back to Tracy, who was wrapped in Jen's protective embrace. Her face was buried against Jen's chest, as Jen murmured quiet reassurances to her. "Your statement, Miss?"
Visibly shaken, Tracy peered up at him. "Can I, um…"
"Would it, uh… be okay if we got back with you on that?" Jen asked. "I don't think she's in any condition to be giving a statement right now."
Frank nodded understandingly. "I'll give you my card after I take care of her," he said, indicating the vitriolic woman he had detained for assault. "You can call me tomorrow and I'll arrange it for you. I can send Detective Malloy to your home, if that makes you feel more comfortable."
"Thank you," Jen said, appreciatively.
"You're welcome, Miss," Frank said, politely. And with that, reciting Diane her Miranda Rights, he escorted her by the arm, through the restaurant, and out the door.
Jackie had the good sense to offer an apology, lame as it was, to the four of them, before quickly paying their bill, and slinking out the door behind Frank and Diane. Much to her chagrin, Frank caught her outside, and made it clear she wasn't to leave without giving her full statement.
After Jackie stepped away, Natalia reached over, gently touching Tracy's shoulder. "It's gonna be all right, Sweetie," she soothed.
Tracy sniffed, and nodded her head against Jen's chest. "Thanks," she choked out.
Daisy approached them cautiously, not wanting to intrude on anything private. When she realized they weren't talking, she edged closer. "Can I get you all anything?" she offered, supportively.
"No," Olivia answered, her tone weighted even with that simple word, "but thank you, Daisy."
"It's no problem," Daisy replied. "I checked on the kids. They're fine. I gave them a few bucks worth of quarters to keep them occupied."
"Oh, thank you, Daisy," Natalia exhaled; breathing a sigh of relief.
"Yes, thank you," Jen agreed.
Olivia made noises of agreement, as well. "I'll take care of you for the video games before we leave," she assured.
"Don't worry about it," Daisy said. "I just figured you wouldn't want them to see all of this." She received another round of thankful responses for her proactive consideration of the situation.
After checking on the other customers, Buzz finally joined them. "Is everyone all right?" he asked, concerned for all four of them.
"I'm really sorry I caused such a commotion," Tracy said, quietly.
"Hey, don't apologize. It wasn't your fault," Daisy replied. "What the hell is her problem?"
Tracy shrugged. "I don't know." She sounded baffled.
"Well, I'm glad you stood up to her," Daisy said. "She was completely outta control."
Draping an arm around Daisy's shoulder, Buzz said, "Daisy's right. She was the one who caused the problem, Honey, not you."
"You're very kind," Tracy said, appreciatively.
Olivia smiled at him. "Yes, he is," she agreed.
He couldn't help but smile back at her. "Listen, I know you were on your way out, but… I think it might be a good idea to maybe settle your nerves before you go," he suggested. "Why don't I whip up a round of ice cream sundaes, and you can all relax for a bit."
"Yeah, that's a great idea," Daisy readily agreed. "I'll get the kids, and we can let them help. That'll keep 'em occupied for a bit, so y'all can talk."
The four of them exchanged silent glances, and then simultaneously, they all nodded as they made mutual noises of agreement. They couldn't leave anyway, until Frank dealt with the whole DNA mess.
"Excellent," Buzz said, clapping his hands together. "We'll mobilize the troops, and have your sundaes up in no time. Coffee, anyone?"
"Please!" came four grateful voices; and everyone laughed.
Natalia's dark eyes shot Buzz a silent reminder, and he nodded and grinned in return. He knew better than to serve Olivia caffeinated coffee. And with that, he and Daisy were off on their mission, as the four women eased back out of their coats, and settled back in to the booth where they had been seated earlier.
"I really am sorry," Tracy said to all three of them. She felt like an ass for having caused such a scene. "I didn't mean—"
"If anyone should be sorry here, it's me, Babe," Jen said, apologetically.
"You didn't do anything!" Tracy insisted.
"I was the one who insisted that we stop hiding, Trace," Jen reasoned. "I swore to you it wouldn't be a big deal, and three days in, look at what's already happened." The very thought of it made her cringe.
"It's not that big a deal, okay?" Tracy attempted to underplay the incident, to keep them from worrying about her.
"But she attacked you, Sweetie," Natalia said, empathically. Her motherly instincts were out in full force.
"Only because I stood up to her. I shouldn't have let her make me so angry," Tracy reasoned. "If you hadn't intervened, Olivia…" She closed her eyes and sighed; then met Olivia's gaze. "I could've blown my whole future…"
"But the point is, you didn't," Olivia said, encouragingly.
"Yeah, thanks to you," Tracy replied, appreciation in her tone. "Thank you, again," she said, sincerely.
"You have a bright future ahead of you," Olivia declared. "I just didn't wanna see you lose out on it over some caustic old bi—"
"Olivia—," Natalia said, a warning tone in her voice.
"What?" Olivia protested. "I was gonna say old biddy!"
"Right." Natalia rolled her eyes animatedly.
Olivia glanced across the table at Jen and Tracy. "I really was," she insisted. "Between you and me," she said, clandestinely, "I've contributed enough to her swear jar to take us on a half-dozen vacations—and we've only lived together a couple of months."
"Well, if you'd stop cursing—," Natalia said, shrugging her shoulders. She left Olivia to fill in the conclusion of her if-then statement.
"I'm not allowed to curse either, Olivia," Tracy said, in solidarity; though she sounded a bit dejected.
"It's not that bad," Jen debated. "Only when we're at work, or when the boys are around…"
Tracy grunted. "Yeah, which basically means the only place I can curse, is bed!"
"Sounds like a great place to relax that rule to me," Olivia said, mischievously. She glanced toward Natalia. "I want a codicil to our swear ja—"
"Olivia!" Natalia bellowed.
"What?" Olivia said, feigning innocence. But she couldn't hide the roguish grin that played on her lips.
The laughter that followed made them all feel a little better. Buzz's return with their coffee kicked that up several more notches, and it wasn't long until Detective Langston Malloy arrived to secure the DNA sample. She asked Tracy to accompany her to a more private area, where she checked in with her, making sure she was okay. Tracy assured her that she was fine, and the detective proceeded to swab her face and hand, as well as the pant leg of her jeans. Once the evidence had been collected, she sealed the kit, and thanked Tracy for her patience. Before the detective let her go, she handed her a card with contact information for support services, saying with sincerity, "Just in case, okay? You seem really calm and put-together, and you may not feel like this is a big deal right now. But sometimes… things come back when we least expect them, y'know? So we just try to be proactive. If you need to talk, these people are great. They specialize in dealing with this sort of thing."
Tracy nodded her head, and offered a faint smile. "Thank you, Detective Malloy," she said, sincerely, as she tucked the card into the back pocket of her jeans. "I appreciate the sensitivity you've shown. Truth is, I'm more pissed off than I am shaken."
"Pissed off is an understandable reaction, given what's happened," Detective Malloy normalized, "as long as you don't allow it to rule your actions."
"Agreed," Tracy said, easily.
They spoke for a few more moments, before Detective Malloy took her leave. Tracy made a beeline toward to the restroom, to wash that vile woman's filth off of her. By the time she returned to their table, their ice cream had arrived. Hers was on its way to melting, of course, but she ate it anyway, enjoying the sweet coolness of the chocolate and vanilla mixture. And when Frank finally returned they were all in higher spirits.
"Ladies, I'm sorry to disturb you," Frank said, politely. "I just wanted to drop my card off." He placed the card on the table in front of Tracy. "Call me tomorrow, if you decide you'd like to file a formal statement."
"What will happen if I don't?" Tracy asked, curious.
"The State will still file charges regardless, because of the nature of the crime. And then the Judge will decide whether there's enough evidence to proceed," he answered, honestly. "It wouldn't surprise me if they pursued it. They don't take hate crimes lightly in Illinois," he explained. He had noted that Diane seemed particularly angry with Tracy, and it sounded rather personal—not just a random thing. "Is this the first time you've encountered this problem with her?"
"It's not the first time I've heard her spewing such garbage," Olivia admitted.
"What?" Natalia questioned, confused.
"Yesterday afternoon, before I came down to the office, I heard her out by the service entrance, talking to Jackie," Olivia explained. She sighed heavily. "I don't even wanna get into the horrid things she was saying." She hoped Natalia wouldn't press the issue.
"It's not the first time for us, either," Jen admitted. "We've received hundreds of derogatory text messages over the past couple of years. Some of them were about us, personally; but she sent them to an entire group of Beacon employees."
"Yeah, she's been gunning for us, or at least for me, for years," Tracy reported. "And I have no idea why." She seemed at a total loss.
Olivia and Natalia both wore concerned expressions, as they took in this information. Two weekends later, over dinner and a shared bottle of red at the farmhouse, Jen and Tracy would outline the perplexing history of Diane's angry barbs toward them; leaving all four of them completely baffled in the end.
"Do you still have any of these texts?" Frank inquired.
"Some of them, yes, Sir," Tracy answered, politely.
"The ones they don't have, I probably do," Olivia interjected. She received rather curious looks from both Jen and Tracy for that particular admission. But at this point, keeping her spying secret was secondary in importance to helping Tracy.
Frank scribbled a few notes in his notebook; then nodded, indicating he felt good about the potential evidence. "That's good," he said, sounding confident. He looked at Tracy then, "The State can't force you to testify, Tracy," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "but they can, and most likely will, call the rest of you to testify for the prosecution, if they decide to pursue the case—so I'll need your formal statements. I'll be called to testify too, and so will Pop and Daisy, and so might some of the rest of these folks," he said, indicating the other customers, "because they were here when it happened."
It was then that they noticed several officers milling through the restaurant, apparently taking preliminary statements and contact information for the other patrons. Olivia's eyes followed the commotion for a moment. "Is this gonna be a big deal, Frank?" she asked, concerned.
"Worried about your reputation?" he accused.
"What?" Olivia replied, confused. "No, of course not," she denied. "Don't be an ass, Frank. I'm concerned about Tracy!"
"Olivia—," Natalia said, gently. She placed her hand on Olivia's arm to calm her.
Olivia settled; albeit grudgingly so. "I just don't wanna see her being treated like the criminal," she said, concern in her eyes.
"I understand," Frank affirmed. His tone was apologetic. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Ladies, I have a few other things to attend to before I can head home."
They thanked him in unison, receiving a cordial nod in response. And as he turned and walked away, Olivia pulled them back into conversation. "Are you doing all right, Tracy? Would you rather we skip the bowling tonight?"
"Yeah," Natalia said, "that's not a problem. We can go next weekend, if you're not up for it tonight."
Tracy considered the offer for a moment before shaking her head. "Thank you, but I don't wanna do that," she said, firmly. "We have three amazing kids who are beyond excited about going." She smiled, as she glanced toward the bar where the three of them sat giggling and eating their ice cream, feet wiggling as they dangled from the barstools. The wiggling told Tracy they were almost finished. "I really don't wanna disappoint them."
Jen reached over, tipping Tracy's chin, and the full weight of her love for the younger woman was reflected in her clear blue eyes. "Is it any wonder I love you the way I do?" she said, sweetly.
"Babe—" Tracy blushed, and shrugged bashfully.
"Well, I do," Jen said, resolutely, "and I won't apologize for it." She brushed her lips against Tracy's, causing the blush to deepen. It wasn't very often that Jen managed to elicit such a reaction in the younger woman, and she relished it to the fullest.
There was a ruckus across the restaurant, and Emma and Dylan came scampering up to the table just in time to witness the exchange of kisses. "Is it time for bow—"
Dylan's question was cut short by Emma's comment, "Uck. Mushy stuff." She sounded a little disgruntled.
"Your mommies are mushy, too," Dylan accused. "I saw 'em at the Beacon the other day." He sounded rather proud of his spying capabilities. Olivia thought the kid had distinct possibilities as an undercover op.
"I know," Emma sighed. "They do that all the time now." She rolled her eyes, causing the women to laugh heartily.
"Does our mushy stuff gross you out, Jellybean?" Olivia teased. She pulled Emma close.
"No," Emma answered, "It's just that you've never been mushy before, 'cept with me and Ava."
Olivia had to concede Emma's point. She had never been so openly affectionate with a partner before—and when she did show affection for them, it was never in front of Emma. She smiled, and brushed a wayward strand of hair from her daughter's brow. "That's because other than you and your big sister, I've never loved anybody as much as I love Natalia."
Jen and Tracy's hearts nearly melted at the hotelier's uncharacteristic sentimentality. They glanced at one another and smiled.
"Do you love her more than us?" Emma asked, innocently. Olivia glanced at Natalia; then back at Emma. The child was mirroring Natalia's facial expression. It baffled her how quickly Emma had adopted so many of Natalia's expressions and mannerisms.
"Of course not, Baby," Olivia answered, honestly. She gently cupped the child's sweet face in her hands. "I love Natalia very differently," she clarified, "but not more or less than you and Ava."
"Or Rafe?" Emma added, expectantly.
Olivia's smile was genuine. "Or Rafe," she confirmed, tousling Emma's hair. Olivia's response made Natalia smile, as well.
Emma climbed into Olivia's lap then, seeking a reassuring hug. "Will it be different when you move into Natalia's room?"
Olivia hugged their daughter tighter, as Natalia gently stroked the child's hair. "No, Baby," Natalia said, reassuringly, "It won't be any different then."
"Good," Emma declared; a bright smile lighting her face. "Is it time to go bowling now?"
The four women laughed at Emma's quickly changing focus, and Tracy nodded. "I think it's about that time."
Olivia glanced at Tracy, regarding the younger woman's resilience with admiration. "Yeah, I think a little bowling is just what we all need," she declared, offering Tracy a warm smile.
Tracy returned the smile, and with that, they rose from the table. And in a flurry of activity, everyone was bundled up again, ready to go.
TBC… in Chapter 8.4: Confession and Confrontations: Cosmic Connections…